The Baltimore sage, as he was called, wrote, voluminously, at a time when journalism in the United States was not only readable but quotable. He was, as were the founders of the nation, an anti-democrat; both the early federalists and the anti-federalist were (small “r”) republicans mistrustful of chief executives, legislators, and judges, which is why they cleverly created a constitutional system in which the powers of execution, legislating and judging were separate but equal.
In Connecticut, just now, these three functions or powers of
the state have come together in the person of Governor Ned Lamont – owing mostly
to the Coronavirus hobgoblin.
Here are some few Mencken quotes:
“As democracy is perfected, the office of president
represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great
and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at
last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”
Trump haters may want to shake the dust from that one. But then
too, former Vice President Joe Biden, now leading in most presidential polls,
appears to have some difficulty, at the very least, in recognizing the truth, a
common problem among presidential contenders, but one that grows worse year by
year. In addition, there are hints here and there that Biden may have his feet
planted infirmly on a slippery Alzheimer slope.
Another from Mencken: “The most dangerous man to any
government is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without
regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes
to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, and
intolerable...”
And another: “Democracy is a pathetic belief in the
collective wisdom of individual ignorance. No one in this world, so far as I
know—and I have researched the records for years, and employed agents to help
me—has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses
of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
And coup de grace
quote: “Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and
deserve to get it -- good and hard.”
The thoughtful among us may disagree with Mencken on his distaste
for democracy, but it must be admitted that the man is quotable. Is there any
quote from any editorial in the last few years that any lover of the language
would wish to pass on to his grandchildren?
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