Democracy

That form of government in which the people rula But the multitude caunot actually rule: an unorganic democracy, therefore, one that is not founded upon a number of institutions each endowed with a degree of self-government, naturally becomes a oneman government. The basis of the democracy is equality, as that of the aristocj-acy is privilege; but equality of itself Is no guarantee for liberty, nor does equality constitutes liberty. Absolute democracies existed in antiquity and the middle ages: they have never endured for any length of time. On their character, Aristotle's Politics may be read to the greatest advantage. Lieber, in his Civil Liberty, dwells at length on the fact that mere equality, without institutions of various kinds, Is adverse to self-government; and history shows that absolute democracy is anything rather than a convertible term for liberty. See Absolutism; Gov-