A PROGRAM OF RADICAL DEMOCRACY 615 



But we have by no means gone far enough. Abram H. Hewitt estimated 

 that a single scientific advance — the Bessemer steel process — produces 

 two billion dollars a year for the world. So much has not been spent on 

 research in its whole history ; but so much should be spent annually, as 

 soon as men can be found or bred to do the work. Science has given us 

 democracy by providing resources adequate to give each his share of 

 education and of opportunity. Plato had to provide an aristocracy and 

 slaves for his republic. Science by reducing to one fourth the manual 

 work that each must do and by doubling the length of life has made 

 democracy possible and has given us so much of it as we have. For the 

 security and extension of political and social democracy, the advance- 

 ment of science should be one of the principal concerns of a democratic 

 government and of a democratic people. 



19. Equality of advantages to the young; equality of opportufiity to 

 all; no special privileges; individual liberty, except wlien this interferes 

 with the liberty or welfare of others; so far as may he, to each all that 

 he needs, from each all that he can give. These are the ends which this 

 program is intended to forward. They are the presuppositions of 

 radical democracy and do not require argument or defense. 



20. The ends here stated to be reached only by gradual evolution 

 and forwarded by conservative methods. In a democracy certain indi- 

 viduals may be prophets or leaders, but we can not advance beyond or 

 apart from the sentiments of the people. They as a whole are more 

 likely to react correctly to the existing situation than any individual. 

 It is proper and desirable that proposals shall be made and urged, 

 however radical and revolutionary; it is equally desirable that laws 

 shall be enacted only when they answer the demands of public opinion. 

 A narrow majority should never enforce radical changes or unduly 

 coerce a minority. Laws, measures and policies should as nearly as 

 may be represent the average opinion after individuals have been 

 counted and weighed. Revolutions are likely to keep on revolving and 

 to be turned by cranks. There are occasions when a saturated solution 

 may be crystallized by a shake; but we should trust to the slow proc- 

 esses of evolution, letting our leaders and our laws follow the moral 

 and intellectual development of a democratic people. A government 

 of laws is better than a government by men; but better than either is 

 freedom, controlled by public opinion and common sense, by precedent 

 and good will. 



