Ranchester High School - Rustler Yearbook (Ranchester, WY)

Page 19 text:

they came to start a government of their own. They thought it was worth the cost in terms of effort and sacrifice. After the goal was set. people had to fight tor the democracy they established. As they developed their American way of life, they granted full liberty to each one and the only restraint on an individual was when he attempted to limit the liberties of other citizens. In a democracy the people are really the gov- ernment because only in a democracy is the will of the people supreme. As long as the people re- spect this privilege democracy will stand. The more devotion and participation the people give their government the more effective their dem- ocracy can be. The individual citizens have the right to speak and make any change they want if the majority o! the people want it. Thus, the minority, though they must abide by the changes made by the ma- jority. are still active and are guaranteed the rights of free speech, press and assembly. They can continue to educate the people to their way of thinking. Often the ideals of the minority grow into the laws of the majority. Thus, a democracy can take the best of all the ideals from all the factions. In a totalitarian government minorities are forbidden. Therefore, they grow into under- ground channels of propaganda and hate. A dem- ocracy woiks because it invites opinions of all the people. Of course mistakes are made, but in a democracy they can be corrected, and the people are able to profit by their mistakes. In a dictator- ship mistakes are falsely blamed on minorities, or anyone but on the dictatorship themselves. Democracy has never stood for world conquest. The stated aim of democracy is freedom and equal- ity for all peoples within each nation. The will of the various peoples, as expressed through free elections would determine the kind of government that might result for democracy can not be forced upon people. This condition, especialy in coun- tries that have never known political responsibility, causes critics of democracy to say it can never work on an international basis. But we know that the “fruits of democracy ripen slowly’ but their roots grow deep and strong.” Many a democratic achievement seemed fantastic when first initiated— woman suffrage, abolition of slavery, free bargain- ing for labor groups, child labor laws, free schools and many more. The acceptance of these ideals resulted from the will of the people. Is there any reason then, to feel that democracy cannot be the only sane way to permanent peace? All the move- mints for peace in the last century have come from democratic nations—World Court. Hague Tri- bunal. International Law. League of Nations, United Nations and the Five Freedoms. Each is a step to the great goal of democracy. Each has streng- thened the hope for a world confederation in which war will be forever out-lawed as have been many other crimes of man’s slow progress. Democracy's greatest dream—need not be a mere dream if we. as peoples with freedom, tolerance?, and good will in our hearts, are determined to keep on making democracy work even as our nation's founders made it work by uniting together that they might live in freedom and peace. Democracy is the “government of the people, by the people and for the people,” that shall lead the nations of the earth to the “universal brotherhood” in a law observing world. (Representative paper from Ranchester High School submitted to B. P. O. Elks’ national high school essay contest). SWISS NEUTRALITY «Essay submitted to American Society for Friend- ship with Switzerland” in national high school contest) Dale Schilling—10th Grade The great peak of the geography of Switzerland is the Matterhorn—beautiful, majestic and challeng- ing. Likewise, the ideal uppermost in every Swiss heart is the attainable height of national strength —neutrality. As the mountain climbers have braved the dangers of the Matterhorn, so has Switzerland scaled the summit of perpetual neu- trality. Both are treacherous; a gust of wind might cause of avalanche of snow or of dissension. The climbers are brave, experienced and sure of foot, but they must forever be alert. One false step might plunge them to the depths and to de- struction. Nineteen forty-eight marked the centennial anni- versary of the Swiss federal constitution but their democratic system, whose cornerstone is neutrality, had its beginning in the early Middle Ages. The birth of the Swiss nation began with the union of Uri. Schw'yz and Unterwolden. The immediate cause for union was mutual protection of established liberty against the growing power of the Hapsburgs It has been argued that geography has permitted Swiss neutrality. Actually. Switzerland is one of the most strategically located nations in the world as she controls the principal mountain passes and headwaters that are important to trade and military maneuvers of other countries. Further, lack of raw materials, lack of sea coast, and a relatively large population would tend to hinder neutrality. Geography did not save Switzerland from being Europe’s battleground from the time of Caesar through that of Napoleon nor did it spare her from devastations of the endless fighting and ruling of bishops and barons. Switzerland learned by her own experienezs and from stories of her mercenaries that the policy of neutrality was essential to her existence and that any other policy would cause “dissension among the races of her own population.” The violation of this policy following the French Revolution was offset by the guarantee of perpetual neutrality by the Congress of Vienna 1815). During the World Wars Switzerland looked upon the conflicts not as struggles for democracy but as rivalry among nations for control of world trade. Because of her stand. Switzerland was spared the lavages of war and the people observed “a measure of moral restraint that no censorship could have imposed. While the world lived under war-time restraints the Swiss thus preserved democracy it- silf. Swiss writers stress that use of force is a sign of weakness and that a policy based on mili- tarism will eventually fail. Swiss neutrality was the main factor in the League of Nations’ decision to make Geneva the “peace hub of the world.” Only after great delib- eration did Switzerland join and she was granted special guarantees that excused her from enforcing sanctions or admitting foreign troops on her soil. In March. 1947. Switzerland stated she was ready to join the United Nations if she could be excused from any actions that would threaten her traditions cf complete neutrality. In July she made the same reservations in regards to the Paris Conference, and retained the right to keep economic neutrality with the countries not accepting invitations to the conference. Thus neutral Switzerland has been in a position to help many victims of wars. These “soul pre- Continued on Page 29) 17

Page 18 text:

‘Good Neighbor Policy” which has almost sup- planted the misunderstandings of thirty years ago. Exchange of travelers, literature, the arts. and. above all. students—the next leaders of the world —have led to the good will that is the foundation for prace and freedom. “The iron curtain of ig- norance” that has closed off all avenues for sim- ilar exchange with Russia is. probably, the most dangerous situation in today's world. Undoubtedly Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt had this in mind when, in addressing the United Na- tions' General Assembly, she said. A requisite of democracy is an informed citizenry. A requisite of peace is international understanding. Education is the only way to obtain an informed citizenry. A truly educated citizsnry would demand that inter- national understanding be based on fairness and tolerance instead of force. To do otherwise is igncrance. Thus individuals and nations would grow in greatness and education would be acknowl- edged not only as the first pre-requisite, but the enduring requisite to world peace and freadom. «Representative paper from Ranchester High School submitted to Sheridan Chapter, D. A. R. Historical Essay Contest, May. 1949» ----o WHY DEMOCRACY WORKS Douglas McLean. 10th Grade Civilization dawned when m:n learned to live together peaceably under some form of government. History proves that it has always been the trend of givernments. regardless of what they call them- selves. to become totalitarian. Likewise, there has been, always a trend and struggle among the masses of mankind to gain a position of equality. Perhaps equality as viewed in the light of history, might be ccnsidired the keystone of dem- ocracy. Liberty has led to license, fraternity to contempt, but equality grants human dignity and the freedoms that have become the foundation for the various democratic governments. Actually democracy has had little chance to prove what it can do. perpetually, for a nation. From the beginning of nationalistic governments until the present time there have be?n but two periods when democracy grew strong enough to work unobstructed. First there were the Greek democracies, so idealistic that they have been the inspiration for all democratic movements since their day. Secondly, two thousand years later, the United States of America proclaimed its freedom on a principle that was almost new in the world: that government rests on the consent of the governed. The whole historical background of government was overthrown by the United States’ Declaration of Independence. The last century has seen the rise and fall of various drmccracies all over the world. Many, especially those of the western hemisphere, have been copied after the American pattern: ethers are more British or French in thought but all make equality basic. The Communistic movement over much of the world today is making a grave challenge to the very existence of democracy. In the inaugural speech of President Harry S. Truman, h? said. “Communism is ba ed on the belief that man is so weak and inadequate that he is unable to govern himself, and therefore requires the rule of strong masters. Democracy maintains that government is established for the benefit of the individual, and is charged with the rights of the individual and his freedom in the exercise of his abilities.” The tool of Communism is fsar, whereas a dem- ocracy works with the principles of equality in speech, press, religions, and voting. Critics of dem- ocracy say it is too slow and cumbersome to meet emergencies. They point out the inefficiencies and extravagances. It is too often assumed that respon- sibility to a whole people works for incompetence. A democracy that is really working however, is direct, efficient, and intelligent in its conduct. The British System has always been flexible and allowed great changes without destroying funda- mentals. The United States is built on English tradition but Congress has used constitutional means to keep abreast of the times. Yet democracy is still on trial before the world because our search for a more perfect security and equality is still going on. One of democracy's greatest threats is that, recently, man's understanding of science has so exceeded his understanding of brotherhood that the survival of democracy and civilization is “at the cross roads.” Students of history point out that actual scientific research in government may be the key to solving world peace. All genuine efforts and institutions, such as th? League of Nations and World Court, have originated in democratic nations. These great experiments worked on the principles of democracy. It seems safe to assume, in view of the past, that a democracy offers the finest opportunities for honest, effective social research. Under th? protection of free speech and press, long range plans can be made for the good of all. In the United States this has been done with free education, labor unions, Tennessee Valley Authority and the “Good Neighbor Policy.” It seems reasonable to believe that an enlarge- ment of the Monroe Doctrine, the functioning of an Atlantic pact, the security of Benelux, and sim- ilar unions, could become examples of international democracies. People today should not forget the darkness in which our fathers groped with governmental prob- lems they sought to solve. From a state of mutual distrust, sectionalism and jealousy, the United States has grown into a nation of enlightened and per- sonal participation in self government. In the many places where d:mocracy can work only in the hearts and hopes of men. the eternal mission is still “to form a more perfect union, establish justice.—provide for the common defense, —and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity Today, a yet higher mission and interpretation cf democracy has been added: to carry these bhssings of equality, union, liberty, and defense against feers and agression to “all people” as the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared “everywhere in the world.” • Representative paper from Ranchester High School submitted to B. P. O. Elks' national high school essay contest.) ----o---- “WHY DEMOCRACY’ WORKS’ Catherine Fiedor—12th Grade Here in the United States we know that dem- ocracy works because the people who came over to found the United States had freedom in their hearts. Each one had high ideals that he brought from his home land and fashioned them to meet a new standard that was in a new land. Thus, they made their government to meet their ideals. We have our democracy because our fore-fathers knew what it was to be without it. The forms cf government they knew did not please them so 16

Page 20 text:

CLASS PJLAY STUNT NIGHT STUDENT COUNCIL 18