Democracy Defined
The following information is taken from an official United States publication (U.S. War Department, Training Manual No.2000-25, November 30,1928). This publication was withdrawn from the Government Printing Office and the Army posts and was to be suppressed and destroyed without explanation:
"Democracy: A government of the masses. Authority derived through mass meeting or any other form of 'direct' expression. Results in mobocracy (mob rule). Attitude toward property is communistic--negating property rights. Attitude toward law is that the will of the majority shall regulate, whether it be based upon deliberation or governed passion, prejudice, and impulse, without restraint or regard to consequences. Results in demagogism (trying to stir up the people by appeals to emotion, prejudice, etc., in order to establish a new leader), license, agitation, discontent, anarchy."
Republic: Authority is derived through the election by the people of public officials best suited to represent them. Attitude toward property is respect for laws and individual rights and a sensible economic procedure. Attitude toward law is the administration of justice in accord with fixed principles that establish evidence with a strict regard for consequences. A greater number of citizens and extent of territory may be brought within its compass, it avoids the dangerous extremes of either tyranny or mobocracy. Results in statesmanship, liberty, reason, justice contentment and progress, is a standard for government around the world.
WHICH DO YOU PREFER? Most alive today have never lived under a Republic, although that is what their birthright is.
