Page:The International Socialist Review (1900-1918), Vol. 1, Issue 1.pdf/5

Rh be found to declare that such a course was intended by the framers of the constitution. It would be defended and justified on constitutional grounds. There is no conceivable course having the prospect of profit in it which lawyers cannot be found to advocate.

The truth of the matter is, neither constitutions nor congresses nor Supreme Courts have anything to do in determining the nature of the government. That matter is decided in a totally different way. We are living today as really under a plutocratic form of government, as if our constitution expressly so declared. Indeed, there is far more in the constitution to justify a plutocracy than there is to justify a democracy. The government of the United States is plutocratic and has been so from its inception. What is plutocracy? It is a government of, for, and by the interests of private property. In other words, it is a government which has its actual source in wealth, and knows no other end than to serve the interests of private profit. A democracy would be a government having its origin in the whole people, determined in all its policies by them acting with freedom and intelligence, and having for its purpose the highest welfare of all the people. It is a confusion of language to call the existing government in this country a democracy, or even say that a democracy is possible under the present social and industrial system. We are discovering—or we ought to be—that government is determined absolutely and wholly by economic conditions. I venture to express the opinion that no more enlightening idea can gain access to the minds of American citizens than that idea. I wish I could impress upon the mind of every intelligent citizen of this country the idea that human government is determined solely by economic conditions, and that therefore the only possibility of securing a change in the form of any government is by securing a change in the economic system. You will bear me witness, I am sure, that the drift of thought in this country is in that direction. More and more are we coming to see that the only issues which are worth considering in our political action are economic in their nature. For only as we change the economic system can we effect any change in government.

Let it be freely admitted that the ideal of democracy has some hold of the popular mind in this country. It has found some expression in the Declaration of Independence. But I venture the opinion that it was but vaguely seen by even the framers of that immortal document and is but vaguely seen by men today. We have yet to adequately conceive democracy. We have yet to get that idea clearly and firmly in our minds.

In order that I may better convey to your minds what is in my own, let me suggest three or four questions. You will