PROSPEROUS APATHY

The stock answer to criticisms of the American governmental system is that "it works." Inquiry is seldom carried to the point of how much better it might work if differently constructed, or how long it would continue to work if subjected to a strain such as European governments are frequently called upon to resist. In the June number of Harper's Harold T. Laski, English student of Political Science, both examines the practical workings of the American political mechanism and raises the question of its adaptability to the unprecedented strains which the future is liable to bring forth.

Americans need not rise up in patriotic wrath at Mr. Laski's statement that "there is hardly a canon of institutional adequacy against which the American, system does not offend." They would do far better to follow Mr. Laski in his analysis of cherished American institutions and to reflect on the multifold weaknesses, actual and potential, therein involved. That the American system of divided responsibility makes neither for legislative coherence nor executive efficiency is a commonplace with any student of government. That it further hampers President and Cabinet members to a point which makes men of the highest ability chafe in either of these positions, and that it reduces the supreme legislative bodies of the land to groups of discontented and irresponsible obstructionists are indictments of too much verity to be lightly pushed aside.

Mr. Laski expresses the incredulity of an Englishman that so great a Republic as that of the United States should allow its President, and to an even greater extent its Vice-President, to be chosen by the essentially haphazard methods actually employed. The restraints placed on American political leaders which in turn lead to comparative political inaction have caused a general apathy toward political matters in the American public which combined with the great prosperity of American life is sufficient to secure passive acceptance of existing governmental institutions.

In the midst of this apathy Mr. Laski sounds a note of warning which unquestionably merits of moment's pause. "America, in fact, is applying eighteenth century ideas and institutions to the problems of a twentieth century civilization. Prosperity may postpone the gathering of the harvest: but one day, assuredly, a new generation will rean us fruit."