From "A Casebook on Ezra Pound" by Edward Stone. The author cites an
article by Jack LaZebnik which appeared in "New Republic" April 1, 1957.
    "He (Pound) defined himself as a Jeffersonian republican: '...you can
throw in Confucius and Van Buren, but you must distinguish between 1820 and
1930 and you must bring your Jefferson up to date.' His preconception of
democracy
    "...as it existed in the minds of Jefferson and Van Buren, is that the
best men... will take the trouble to place their ideas and policies before
the majority with such clarity and persuasiveness that the majority will
accept their guidance... The preconception of let us say the Adamses, or
aristodemocratic parties is that privilege, a little of it, will breed a
sense of responsibility... It seems fairly proved that privilege does NOT
breed a sense of responsibility... 95 percent of all privileged classes seem
to believe that the main use of privileges is to be exempt from
responsibility... Obviously no best, no even good governing class can be
spineless... 'good' must include a capacity for action, some sense of
relation between action and mere thought or talk."


The actual words attributed to Pound in this quote seem to indicate that
Pound was NOT a Jeffersonian Republican.  Before I give a detailed analysis
of his views on Jefferson and Adams, I would like someone to interpret the
quote, someone who can explain what it is supposed to prove.  It is
presented without comment, as if the reader will accept it as proof of an
assertion about Pound's alleged commitment to Republican government.  JL's
words are HIS interpretation of Pound's self-characterization.  What do we
know about JL?  What do Pound's own word's say about his beliefs?  Anyone
care to comment?  Why the phrase "His preconception of democracy?"  Does
Pound use the word "democracy" anywhere with a favorable connotation?
Notice he talks here about an "aristo-democratic" party?   What about the
phrase

"[They] will take the trouble to place their ideas and policies before
the majority with such clarity and persuasiveness that the majority will
accept their guidance"

That sounds more like Confucian authoritarianism to me (or Lipmann's
"manufacture of consent") than it does like democracy.

Consider a phrase like this:

"The preconception of let us say the Adamses, or
aristodemocratic parties is that privilege, a little of it, will breed a
sense of responsibility"

Does it not sound more like he is talking about a feudal aristocracy than a
group of democratically elected politicians?  It sounds like what English
nobles were saying, while the aristocracy fell to pieces (such phrases were
admirably satirized by Virginia Wolfe).  The talk is about "privilege"; not
about accountability TO AN ELECTORATE.   And none of the rest of the quote
has anything to do with democracy.  Pound is talking about a "governing
class," not elected officials, or about a democratic process for selecting
leaders.

Also, we must remember the date is 1957.  Who is he saying this to, in what
context, in what surroundings, and for what purpose, and to what audience?

Wei






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