DEMOCRACY’S ERROR
“MEN AND PRINCIPLES” “Democracy has made the mistake of concentrating on programmes and on measures, instead of on men and principles. Progress is achieved not by setting out proposals and beating them, but by finding men who care passionately for the purpose in view and asking them to achieve it. The spiritual structure of nature and of society is a hierarchy. We in-
stinctively recognize this when we want to achieve a purpose like the leading of an army to victory or the building up of a large enterprise. We grant the power to one man, who in turn delegates power to those beneath him. The essential duty of a leader is to see further ahead than the people and not to follow along behind them. As it functions to-day, democracy does not give men freedom to serve the highest, but ties them down to the mediocre. It gives man a partnership in debate while it withholds from him a true partner* ship in responsibility. Parliament will survive this war, but the party system is doomed. It is mainly the party system which has undermined the moral fibre of politics', 'and has weaned politicians from the habit oi thinking straightly and arguing i honestly.”—Mr Tom Sargent in '“These Things May Be.” - -
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Bibliographic details
Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4527, 23 January 1942, Page 7
Word Count
213DEMOCRACY’S ERROR Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4527, 23 January 1942, Page 7
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