ONE of the phrases coined concerning this country is that it is "a government of the people and by the people and for the people." No better governmental sentiment was ever cast into human language, provided it is understood in the light in which the fathers of this Republic believed and taught it. But it is an easy matter to see that this splendid sentiment, as well as any other great doctrine of government or of religion, may be readily subverted. It is quite possible and absolutely natural for us to slide into a position where we are still shouting for the literal wording of the old and approved doctrine, while in practise we are going in the opposite direction, and doing untold mischief at every step of the way.
Appealing to the People
There has come down to us from the Romans Vox populi, vox Dei; that is, "The voice of the people is the voice of God." And while this has not been admitted generally in the past as a sound American doctrine, yet in practise we are swinging more and more toward it during the last few years. One of the great political war-cries of the present time with a large and constantly growing number of men and women is, "the people," "the people;" let us appeal the whole matter to "the people," and let them decide. And thus the "initiative, referendum, and recall" are growing in popularity, and we are sure that the popularity is destined to increase greatly, notwithstanding the fact that some strongly influential men are opposing the doctrine with all their might.
Are the People Always Safe?
It is comparatively easy for a fluent talker to take a superficial view of public questions in a representative government, and by the mere bewilderment of his words, become a great popular idol that the people will follow as an authority. He appeals to their passions and prejudices, and not to their sense and reason. He arouses and inflames them until they are ready to form a great crusading host to march against they know not what. These orators can make every popular movement of the past that has gained the approval of history fit into their schemes.
Not all the people can be touched by these superficial word-artists. There is always a great body of men who do not move by mere sentiment; they think. But it is safe to say that when conditions are favorable, a majority of the people may be incited to take positions that history will not approve. Even these same people may be led into taking contradictory positions from day to day as public sentiment is shifted from side to side. Ambition for position and power, or some other selfish interest, can be made to glitter and shine forth as the loftiest patriotism. And one of these demagogic leaders can so present his themes as to make "the people" think they are having their own way and doing the governing, when in reality they are simply following him blindly and by the sheer force of numbers making it possible for him to have his own way.
We should learn to distinguish between the genuine rule of the people where they have calmly thought out the important problems and principles of government, and the rule of passion, fired by oratory that is blinded by selfish ambition.
A Monument in History
The French Revolution is one of the monumental mountain peaks of history. There were in the nation many glaring wrongs that were oppressing the people. There was a striking similarity between the governmental wrongs and the problems of that time and the abuses and problems of this time. The generation that produced that great revolution in France was also noted for its appealing orators, and scribes, with powers of vivid portrayal. "The people" were stirred. "The people" finally took things in their own hands, and one of these orators or scribes might be the popular idol of to-day; to-day they would laud him as a god, until the intoxication of applause would lead him to think that he was secure as the "leader of the people." But on the morrow these same "people," having found a new object of idolatry, would hilariously march the idol of yesterday, with perhaps a score of his most influential followers, to the guillotine and chop off their heads. It was "the people" who applauded yesterday, and it is the same people who decapitate to-day. History abounds with similar illustrations, which ought to teach the man who aspires to be a popular idol of the people, that it is a singularly dangerous thing.
When the Lord Jesus Christ Himself was crucified, it was because of the popular demand of "the people." Designing and ambitious priests and rulers had worked upon the populace until they raised the popular cry that was so general as to be almost deafening, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him."
Moses is reckoned by all to be one of the greatest characters of history. He was a mighty leader, a great jurist, and yet so kind, unselfish a man that his thoughts were never of himself, but always of the people whom he was seeking to serve while he led them. He was so true in all the principles of his great manhood, that history, both secular and divine, accords him a place of perfection, of power, and of influence, next to Christ. And yet, on more than one occasion, designing and ambitious characters worked among "the people" until they stood ready to stone to the death the man whose every moment, with all his masterly powers, was devotedly given to their true service.
"The people" are the perpetrators of all the persecutions of all the ages. "The people" put Jeremiah in the filthy dungeon and fed him with bread and water. "The people" whipped the Quakers and ill-treated and banished Roger Williams in the early history of this country. "The people" mobbed and imprisoned the Wesleys. "The people" have dragged men to the stake and burned them alive, not only in the times of the persecutions of the Dark Ages, but in these very days and in this very country in which we now live. For whenever the mob is excited to the point of burning or hanging a culprit, it is all because "the people" in that particular locality have become inflamed to the point of lawlessness.
The expression "the people" is purposely placed in quotation marks in the foregoing paragraphs, because in times of social or political intensity there are numerous characters that are excitable, and can be wrought up to a high stage of violent activity, while the people who are worthy of the name are trampled beneath the feet of this mob. There seems to be little that can be done at such times except to let the mob, that passes for the time being for "the people," exhaust itself with its own excesses. Then after the storm, the true people assert themselves to right things up, and in the reaction no one can be found who cares to acknowledge that he was among "the people" that formed the erstwhile mob.
The Example of Lincoln
Lincoln is often appealed to as a man that was of the people and for the people. But many of those who hold Lincoln forth as an example are going in the opposite direction from the whole course of his noble and useful life. Lincoln was himself one of the common people. He had the good of the whole people at heart, and his life-work was with that end in view. But Lincoln appealed to the reason and sense of the people. His speeches were models of calmness, logic, and dignity. No American has ever arisen who was a more profound student of the true principles of the Constitution and government of these United States. And altho he was called to lead the nation through the great storm-period of its history, and altho a cruel war was fought while his hand was on the helm of state, and11altho the majority of the people were with him (else he could not have done the work that he did), yet he and his associates had them so educated that they all were guided by the principles for which he stood, rather than by the personality of the man. There was excitement in the controversy, it is true. It could not have been otherwise. But it was not allowed to break entirely away from the control of reason.
Even the great Lincoln, who was one of the best champions of the real people that the nation has ever produced, recognized that it was possible for the people to go wrong; for he it was who framed the expression that has become a classic, "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you can not fool all the people all the time."
There is something highly intoxicating about popular applause. Not only the individual who is applauded becomes intoxicated, but the people who are doing the applauding are intoxicated as well. They applaud, very frequently, not because their reason is touched and their admiration is aroused by something that is highly commendable, but because they want to be in style. Whom they are applauding and why they are doing it, is not so much the question as to know that it is the style to do it. Men frequently jest about the women following the styles in dress, but it is one of the weaknesses of humanity to try to follow the styles of thinking as well as of dressing. And more dangerous than anarchists are demagogs who excite the populace. For when the populace becomes intoxicated by excitement and passion, like the drunken man, you can never tell what they will do. When great popular movements, like that of the French Revolution, once get under way, they soon become uncontrollable, and the men who are to blame for starting them are soon without power to guide.
A Prophetic Picture
At the very close of time there is to be a popular movement that will swing all the world into it, with but very limited exception. This statement is made on the basis of the following prophecy:
And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like unto a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast in his sight. And he maketh the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose death stroke was healed. And he doeth great signs, that he should even make fire to come down out of heaven upon the earth in the sight of men. And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by reason of the signs which it was given him to do in the sight of the beast; SAYING TO THEM THAT DWELL ON THE EARTH, that they should make an image to the beast who hath the stroke of the sword and lived. And it was given unto him to give breath to it, even to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead; AND THAT NO MAN SHOULD BE ABLE TO BUY OR TO SELL, save he that hath the mark, even the name of the beast or the number of his name. Rev. 13:11-17.
Please observe that the foregoing language calls for a movement in which all the people on all the earth will be appealed to, to make an image to the beast. This popular movement will have power and signs and miracles connected with it. It will also use the boycott, for it will not allow any one to buy or sell who has not its mark. If language can be made to mean anything, the foregoing language from the prophet shows that the last great stroke of the powers of this world will be a world-wide “people’s movement.” The evidence is clear, and we should think about what we are doing.
Against this great popular movement among the people we have one of the most startling warnings that may be found in the Word of God. It reads:
And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, If any man worshipeth the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark on his forehead, or upon his hand, he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of His anger. Rev. 14:9, 10.
It may be exhilarating to some minds to start great, ambitious schemes and try to carry them by telling “the people” that they are infallible. But it will ever remain true that the Master has said that “wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt. 7: 13, 14.
The people who are strong enough and calm enough to refuse to be frenzied by excitement, may be trusted to listen to reason and be guided by intelligence. But the foregoing prophecy indicates that there will be enough of the other class to make a great world-wide movement that will finally come to grief. It is well to be careful to stand on the safe side.
