254 TEE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



SCIENCE AND DEMOCKACY 1 



Bx M. B. HAGGERTY 



INDIANA UNIVERSITY 



jT) EVOLUTIONS are a part of our modern world. Men have come 

 -L^ to look upon them as natural moments in national life. So 

 much experience have the western nations had with social upheavals and 

 the reversal of political practises that they have learned how to revolute 

 without war or violence. 



To many thoughtful men, we are now in the midst of such a peace- 

 ful revolution. In America, England, Germany, old ideals are being 

 forsaken and settled institutions are submitted to a criticism that un- 

 settles their foundations. Everywhere, in religion, politics, industry, 

 education, there is the antithesis between conservative and radical, the 

 latter bringing about the ears of the former a perfect storm of clamor 

 and bewilderment. In America we incline to view the current tumult 

 as the fallow ground out of which is to spring a new and better form of 

 social organization. The evident unrest is but the sjmiptom of funda- 

 mental changes going on. It indicates the recasting of our ideals into 

 a new and larger program of democracy. 



Clearly to apprehend the portent of our current confusion, one needs 

 to look below the symptoms for the cause. The fires of significant revo- 

 lution are never kindled on the surface. They smolder in secret places 

 and in obscurity gather the strength which overturns existing institu- 

 tions. The overt crisis comes finally as the breaking forth of a long 

 suppressed flame. So was it in France in 1789 ; so was it in America in 

 1860; so was it in China in 1912. So is it in all our western world in 

 this year of grace. Causally contributing to our present ferment there 



i This paper was read to the Indiana University Chapter of Sigma XI, De- 

 cember 11, 1913, and subsequently to the Liberal Lecture League at Indianapo- 

 lis. On superficial reading it may seem that some of its claims have been refuted 

 by the present European war. To the writer it seems that the development of 

 mankind is a deep movement in which the present war, terrible and reactionary 

 as it is, is an episode. Its most harmful effect upon the march of civic emanci- 

 pation will be the economic one, the destruction of the means of life. When the 

 "glorious victory" shall have been won there will be less to eat than before. 

 The ' ' strong man ' ' will get his disproportionate share, and the common men who 

 are left in Europe will be hungry. They will be less aggressive than before, and 

 the tide of economic liberation which was steadily rising in 1913 will be stayed. 

 But a new generation will be born to try again the fight for freedom. Some day 

 that fight will be really won and Europe will forget William III. and Nicholas 

 II. as France has forgotten Napoleon and as we have forgotten George III. To 

 the achievement of such oblivion science lends its indirect but powerful aid. 



