===== PAGE 1 ===== IDEAS ON LIBERTY SEPTEMBER 1959 But What Can I Do?. . . . . . . . J Kesner Kahn 3 Raffles of Singapore . . . . . . . George Winder 6 The Religious Foundation of a Free Society Edmund A, Opitz 13 The Farmer's Two Masters. . . . . . Indianapolis Star 17 Portrait of Russia? . . . . . . . . Henry Hazlitt 19 Why Not Socialize Our Economy? . . . Mallory Cross Johnson 21 “| Want To Be a Consumer’ . . . . . Patrick Barrington 27 The Welfare State Doctrine . . . . . P.M. Fox 29 “Undue Concentration’’ in Business . . . Harold Fleming 33 The Bogey of Administered Prices’. . . Murray N. Rothbard 39 Listening Is a 10-Part Skil . . . . . . Ralph G. Nichols 42 The Deficit. . . . . . . . . . . H.P. B. Jenkins 49 Public Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority . . . . Richard D. Obenshain 50 American Capitalism Through European Eyes . . . . . . . . John Chamberlain 60 fn THE FOUNDATION FE FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION, INC. Irvington-on-Hudson, New York ===== PAGE 2 ===== Coast Federal Savings and Loan Association Olers savings imvestors~ Maximum Return on their investment with SAFETY, through progres- sive, yet conservative management — plus insurance on each account to $10,000.00. 4% current annual rate payable semi-annually. NOTE: All ac- counts opened or funds added to existing accounts by the 10th of any month earn dividends from the first of that month. Availability of Funds when needed due to high liquidity position, (Over $117,000,000.00 in cash and government bonds as of June 30, 1959.) Promptness in all transactions assured by use of AIRMAIL. (We pay postage both ways). Legal Investment for Trust Funds Resources over $367,714,012.90 (As of June 30, 1959) Reserves over $30,365,806.13 (As of June 30, 1959) Variety of Accounts io suit your needs — Individual, Joint, Trust and Corporation “LET'S GET ACQUAINTED’ —Write today for this booklet and financial statement to: Coast Federal Savings, Department “H’’—9th at Hill, Los Angeles 14, California. | COAST FEDERAL SAVINGS | J » JOE CRAIL, PRESIDENT e | MEMBER — FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK — FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN INSURANCE CORP. ===== PAGE 3 ===== MEMO ON PRIVATE ENTERPRISE No. 9 in a series ¢«_.. more business activity by Government . . . means less business by private enterprise” Public versus private ownership of businessmen who subscribe to and operation of transportation private enterprise but do not wish enterprises is the real issue in pro- to pay their way under it.” posals now before the 86th Con- It was noted that the parcel gress to increase the size and post shippers seeking to expand weight limits of the taxpayer- the Government service currently subsidized parcel post system, the have opposed the Postmaster Senate Post Office Subcommittee General’srequest to the Interstate was told in June. Commerce Commission to wipe William B. Johnson, President out the $100.8 million parcel post of Railway Express Agency, said deficit. It does not include some the 120-year-old nationwide ex- $65 million in parcel post costs press business could not survive paidbyother Governmentdepart- the dire economic and competitive ments and likewise borne by the effects of a Senate bill, S.1306. It taxpayers for the benefit of the would increase from 20 to 70 commercial parcel post users, pounds the weight of individual “Self-interest,”” Mr. Johnson parcel post packages moving by observed, “is, of course, a first law mail between most first class post of life, but we urge that the Sub- office cities in competition with committee critically scrutinize privately-owned common carriers. theadvocacy of an expanded Gov- The average weight per pieceofex- ernment service when the advo- press, he noted, is only 26 pounds. cates are so vigorously endeavor- “The principle of more business ing to prevent adjustments in the activity by Government,”” Mr. money-losing rates for even the Johnson asserted, ‘‘carries the re- present service.” sult of less business by private His reasonable request was that enterprise.” the Agency not be made to suffer “It is hoped,” he said, “the any new Government competi- Congress will not put the Gov- tion and that all parcel post costs ernment further into the trans- be included in the parcel post portation business for the benefit rate-making base. For a free copy of the informative booklet, “The Truth About Parcel Post,” address the Public Relations Division, RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY 219 East 42nd Street, New York 17, N.Y. A PRIVATE ENTERPRISE IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE SNA ===== PAGE 4 ===== THE Teena A MONTHLY JOURNAL OF IDEAS ON LIBERTY SEPTEMBER 1959 Vol. 8 No. 9 LEONARD E. READ President, Foundation for Economic Education PauL L. POIROT Managing Editor THE FREEMAN is published monthly by the Foundation for Economic Education, Inc.,, a non- political, nonprofit educational champion of private property, the free market, the profit and loss system, and limited government, founded in 1946, with offices at Irvington-on-Hudson, New York. Any interested person may receive its publications for the asking. The costs of Foundation projects and services, in- cluding THE FREEMAN, are met through volun- tary donations. Total expenses average $12.00 a year per person on the mailing list. Donations are invited in any amount — $5.00 to $10,000 — as the means of maintaining and extending the Foundation’s work. Accepted as controlled circulation publication at Irvington, N. Y., with additional entry at New York, N. Y, Copyright, 1959, The Foundation for Economic Education, Inc. Printed in U.S.A. Additional copies, postpald, to one address: Single copy, 50 cents; 3 for $1.00; 25 or more, 20 cents each, Permission is hereby granted to anyone to reprint any article in whole or in part, providing customary credit Is given, except “The Farmer's Two Masters,” “‘Portralt of Russia?’ ‘| Want To Be a Consumer,’ F'E ‘“ ‘Undue Concentration’ in Business,” and ‘Listening Is a 10-Part Skill." E Any current article will be supplied In reprint form If there are enough inquiries to justify the cost of the printing, ===== PAGE 5 ===== But What Can | Do about It? or, How to shape public opinion yourself. MoOST PEOPLE are aware that our J. KESNER KAHN Way, the American Way of Life, is being seriously challenged — for every time I have heard this that if something isn’t done, expression from those who earn things will get worse instead of more than I do. I say it this way to better. There may not be agree- emphasize the fact that so many ment on which issue or issues are people, whose capabilities in busi- the most crucial, but among those ness fields far exceed mine, plead most frequently mentioned are full ignorance in the all-important apathy, conformity, lack of a sense business of fulfilling their duty as of responsibility, racial conflict, American citizens. inflation, internationalism, social- Salesmen who make hundreds of ism-communism, juvenile delin- contacts before they make a sale, quency, automobile accidents, gov- advertisers who are happy with a ernment spending, monopoly few orders per thousand broad- unionism, foreign competition, and sides mailed, fishermen who will go the like. to any lengths in the mere hope Yet, we find even those persons of landing the big one, become most seriously concerned asking very different people when it comes this question: “But what can I do to performing their civic duties. about it?” I'd like to have a nickel Here, they seem to expect imme- —_— diate and overwhelming results Mr. Kabn, a businessman from Chicago, is With a minimum of effort. They perhaps best known for his “Letters to the : ” Editor.” underestimate the competition. 3 ===== PAGE 6 ===== 4 THE FREEMAN September The grafter, the subversive, and agreement, determine the degree the special interest groups have of certainty with which a person much to gain by imposing their holds a conviction. Never under- wills upon legislators and upon the estimate the power of an ex- public; and what they gain is im- pressed indication of approval or mediate. You and I, who want the disapproval. blessings of liberty secure for our- You are busy, but you do read selves and our posterity, perhaps widely to keep informed. Good! are less aware of what we gain by As you read, mark articles, under- defending and advancing Ameri- line cogent phrases, check sum- canism. marizing paragraphs. Then, send Whatever the reason, the fact these on to others. If you have remains: people seem to like to time, include a note such as, “This believe that they can’t do anything also confirms what you said,” or — 80 they do nothing. Yet, what “You may be right, but there does each person is capable of doing, appear to be another side.” Formal and has the ability to do, is most letters of transmittal are seldom substantial. necessary. Just mail these mate- rials where you think they would Sound Opinions, Well Expressed do the most good. First, you must have an opinion, You may doubt the effectiveness as soundly based and firmly estab- of this technique until you see an lished as possible. Second, you editor, to whom you have sent a must see that this opinion is ex- mailing or two, permanently alter pressed in public, for an unknown his policies; or a legislator change opinion has no more value than his vote on an issue. Or, a friend any other form of unknown wealth. who has been in disagreement Most of us aren’t going to hire with you will come around one day a hall, put on our own TV show, and say: “You know that last item or even write a book. But we can, you sent really has something to at least in conversations, say we it.I never thought of it that way.” arenot convinced (when wearen’t), And still people ask: “What can I and let those who have made a do about it?” good point know that we think If most of us did just this they have done well. Even those much, the principles and institu- who would remain least involved tions of Americanism wouldn’t be can do this much. Psychologists as contorted and corroded as they have demonstrated that six or are now. Of course, you could go seven people, in agreement or dis- much further. You could refrain ===== PAGE 7 ===== 1959 BUT WHAT CAN 1 DO ABOUT IT? 5 from letting purely commercial be responsible for doing our duty, considerations “force” you to con- helping others who are also work- tribute and support movements ing and fighting in our behalf, do- and actions that you know are ing our share of the work and the wrong. You could initiate corres- fighting. Again, because it is all pondence with governmental offi- voluntary, we must support our- cials, trade association executives, selves, and we should be willing to and editors. give help to those who give so much in time and effort that they Voluntary Cooperation need our support. No matter how “big” or “small” The big question is not, “What you may consider yourself, realize can I do about it?” but rather, that you may be the sole initiator- “How can I possibly afford not to sponsor of an idea —and that if do something?” That you refrain you stop, everything stops. On the from doing anything does not other hand, unless others join you mean that your opposite number, eventually, you probably won't get on the other side of the issue, will far. And this works both ways; also refrain. You surely can be as for others need support, too. This effective in shaping public opinion you can do. You can support those as can your opposite number; and who are supporting what you be- since he is active, you cannot af- lieve is right. ford to be otherwise. We can think of ourselves as You can go far, if you just keep voluntary members of a voluntary putting one foot ahead of the army, each of us deciding how other. In this business of being a much we can afford to give in time Citizen, START! KEEP MOV- and wealth — how much we can af- ING! and you'll find you have ford not to give. Just because it really begun to “do something is a voluntary affair, we must each about it.” eo oo The Importance of the Individual THE IDEAL of freedom is not a fanciful myth. It is thoroughly attainable in a practical way. And it will be more readily attain- able if we quit regarding those we wish to convert as either masses or classes, and recognize the individual person as the fountainhead of good, of energy, of all that is creative. HENRY GRADY WEAVER, Talking to Ourselves ===== PAGE 8 ===== THE FREEMAN September . y Pe / Jr J ‘0 . . Lt ‘- "oe Io fini ary a Z, , ‘ 2 / R ’ / SIR STAMFORD RAFFLES OF SINGAPORE ===== PAGE 9 ===== ! I oF Singapore His lengthened shadow fades. GEORGE WINDER SINGAPORE, an island 27 miles long high tariff barriers, combined with by 14 miles broad, on which is the introduction of an unprece- situated one of the great cities of dented measure of state control the world, has this year become a over the economic system. self-governing state, although it The history of Singapore's cen- remains nominally within the Brit- tury and more of free enterprise ish Empire and allows the British is surely one of the greatest prac- to retain certain defense bases on tical vindications of libertarian its territory. beliefs. The city was born of free With the abdication of the Brit- enterprise, and practiced it — with ish, more than a century of free its concomitant, free trade — even enterprise on the island has come before the Repeal of the Corn Laws to an end. in 1846 established that system in A year or so ago, when the Great Britain; and it continued to people of Singapore first obtained do so after free enterprise had a great measure of self-govern- ceased to be the economic policy of ment, they introduced protective the protecting power. customs tariffs. Now, with the vic- The man who first foresaw the tory at the polls of the left-wing commercial advantage of this tiny Socialist People’s Action Party, island at the end of the Malay the first Premier of the independ- Peninsula, with its fine roadsteads ent state — Cambridge-educated for shipping, and established there Lee Kuan Yew — has announced a great free port, was Stamford his intention to “industrialize” the Raffles. The son of a British sea island, a process which will require captain, he joined the East India : Company at the age of fourteen as Mr. Winder, formerly a Solicitor of the gn office boy at its Leadenhall- Supreme Court in New Zealand, is now farm- ing in England. He has written widely on Street headquarters in London. law, agriculture, and economics, his most recent book being A Short History of Money. When twenty-four, he was sent 7 ===== PAGE 10 ===== 8 THE FREEMAN September out to the Company’s office at In 1819, he entered into a con- Penang. Here he studied the na- tract with the Sultan of Johore tive languages, and soon advanced for the sale of the island of Singa- himself in the esteem of his su- pore to the East India Company periors. In 1810, he visited Cal- for 60,000 Spanish dollars (£13,- cutta, where he won the confidence 500) and a life annuity of 24,000 of the Governor-General, Lord dollars. (Incidentally, it is from Minto. In 1811, a British force set this same Spanish dollar that the out from Malacca to capture the American currency is derived.) island of Java from the Dutch, who had been forced to ally themselves Official Opposition with Napoleon Bonaparte. Raffles But this straightforward pur- was appointed Intelligence Officer chase of the island was nothing to this expedition. compared with Raffles’ difficulty in Six weeks later the expedition persuading the British govern- had accomplished its task, and ment to recognize the transaction. Lord Minto, to the surprise of As soon as Lord Hastings — the some of his more orthodox officials, successor to Lord Minto — heard of appointed Stamford Raffles as the matter, he wrote to the Gov- Lieutenant-Governor of the newly- ernor of Penang saying that, in acquired territories. Certainly, face of the protests received from this was a great advance in life the Dutch, Raffles had no right to for a young man of thirty, with seek a trading post in such an only six years experience in the area, and instructions were given East, and before that an office boy that, “if the post has not yet been in Leadenhall-street. obtained, he is to desist from any After Waterloo, Java was re- further attempt to establish one.” turned to the Dutch, and Raflles We are told that the British received a knighthood. But — Cabinet was also ‘‘excessively owing, it is believed, to the jeal- angry,” and Raffles would almost ousy his rapid rise had aroused — certainly have been forced to the only position found for him abandon the port except for the was that of Resident for the East influence of the commercial com- India Company at Bencoolan, an munity in The Straits which stood unimportant trading post in Su- behind him solidly. Frank Swet- matra. Here, however, he busied tenham, onetime Governor of the himself with the project of finding Straits Colony, in his book, British a suitable port for Great Britain’s Malaya, tells us concerning the growing traffic with the East. establishment of Singapore: ===== PAGE 11 ===== 1959 RAFFLES OF SINGAPORE 9 “In all this, no British party and his philosophy that free enterprise no British government can claim become the unquestioned form of to have taken part, except by the island’s economy almost until grudgingly assenting to what had the present day. been done, almost without their His motive for purchasing the knowledge, entirely against their island was that it might be the wishes.” center for complete freedom of Seven years after Raffles signed trade, in contrast to the protected his first contract with the Sultan and controlled system which he of Johore, which finally resulted had seen in the Dutch possessions, in bringing Singapore into the and which, with the return of Java British Empire, he died in Eng- to their rule, he feared would be land at the age of forty-five, and, more complete than ever. as Swettenham tells us, “no one We obtain some conception of knows where to find his grave.” the ideals which burned in the soul of Stamford Raffles from an inter- Faith in Freedom change of letters with merchants Such is a brief outline of the of the island when Raffles was career of Stamford Raffles. What leaving Singapore in 1823. The it does not mention is perhaps his merchants had written: “To your greatest quality — his complete and unwearied zeal, your vigilance, and reasoned faith in the system of your comprehensive views, we owe free enterprise. at once the foundation and main- It was while he was Governor of tenance of a Settlement unparal- Java that this first disclosed itself. leled for the liberality of the prin- The Dutch had always held the ciples on which it has been trade of that island as a fee of the established, principles the opera- Netherlands. Raffles always al- tion of which has converted, in a lowed complete freedom of trade. period short beyond all example, He also altered the conditions of a haunt of pirates into an abode land tenure, so that individual — as of enterprise, security, and opu- distinct from communal — holdings lence.” were encouraged. He also abol- Perhaps these are formal senti- ished slavery on the island. His ments, suitable for the occasion. five years of rule in Java were long But here is a passage from Sir remembered as a period of great Stamford’s remarkable reply: prosperity and progress. “It has happily been consistent But it was at Singapore where with the policy of Great Britain, he so impressed the people with and accordant with the principles ===== PAGE 12 ===== 10 THE FREEMAN September of the East India Company, that was not long dead, and the Repeal Singapore should be established as of the Corn Laws was still an a free port; that no sinister,. no event of the future. If Adam sordid view, no considerations Smith was the first to advocate either of political importance or free enterprise, Stamford Raffles pecuniary advantage, should inter- was the first administrator to put fere with the broad and liberal the system into practice. principles on which the British in- terests have been established. Tribute in Four Tongues “Monopoly and exclusive privi- But, fortunately, times were leges, against which public opinion changing. Twenty-three years has long raised its voice, are here after that letter was written, Great unknown, and while the free port Britain followed the example of of Singapore is allowed to continue Singapore in adopting, as her de- and prosper, as it hitherto has clared economic policy, the system done, the policy and liberality of of free trade and free enterprise. the East India Company, by which In 1850, Singapore came under the the Settlement was founded, and more direct control of the Gover- under which protection and control nor-General of India, who visited it is still administered, can never the island in person. This particu- be disputed. lar proconsul happened, very for- “That Singapore will long and tunately, to be a Scottish peer always remain a free port, and strongly imbued with the prin- that no taxes on trade or industry ciples of his countryman, Adam will be established to check its Smith. He had once served on the future rise and prosperity, I can Board of Trade under Gladstone have no doubt. I am justified in and was one of those responsible saying this much, on the authority for the Repeal of the Corn Laws. of the Supreme Government of As a memorial of his visit, an India, and on the authority of obelisk was erected in Empress those who are most likely to have Place, near the center of the city, weight in the Councils of our na- which is remarkable for recording tion at home.” — in four languages: English, It must be remembered that, Malay, Chinese, and Tamil — the when this letter was written, the basic faith on which the city of mercantilist system with its pro- Singapore was founded. tective customs barriers existed in It commences with the Gover- every country of the world, includ- nor-General’s distinctions —but no ing Great Britain. Adam Smith matter, we will give the inscription ===== PAGE 13 ===== 1959 RAFFLES OF SINGAPORE 11 in full, for he deserves some of our that principle remained as the very thanks for the message it contains. guardian spirit of the city of Sing- Here it is: apore, so that it flourished exceed- Erected ingly. From the poverty-stricken by the European haunt of pirates it grew, in a few Chinese and Native years, into one of the world’s Inhabitants of Singapore greatest ports, with a population to commemmorate the visit of a million souls, enjoying a in the month of standard of living admittedly far February, 1850 higher than in any other part of of the most noble Asia. In its busy streets, although The Marquis of Dalhousie, Chinese predominate, are repre- K.T., Governor General of sentatives of nearly all the races British India of the world, from the bearded on which occasion Sikhs who direct the traffic, to he emphatically recognized Gurkhas from Nepal, and Maoris the wisdom of liberating from faraway New Zealand, on commerce leave from their stint in the jungle from all restraints where they guard the island from under which enlightened communist bandits. policy the Settlement has The Lesson Forgotten rapidly attained its present On all sides can be found proof rank of the productive power of free among British possessions enterprise, even on a small island and with which with poor soil and few natural re- its future prosperity . sources. Yet today this great and must ever be populous city has forgotten those identified. principles which ensured its pros- “The wisdom of liberating com- perity and has turned its back on merce from all restraints’! Never the faith of its founder. Lee Kuan has the basic principle of free Yew, with the aid of protective enterprise been expressed more tariffs and the intervention of the clearly and briefly, and certainly government, will now turn Singa- never in stranger surroundings, pore into an industrial state. than on that obelisk under the When principles are forgotten, palm trees in one of the great the practices to which they give cities of Asia. rise cannot long survive. The end And, for over a hundred years, could have been foreseen when, a ===== PAGE 14 ===== 12 THE FREEMAN September few years ago, the city held a dulkadir — who knew him well and great festival to celebrate the re- once served him as a scribe, speak turn of British rule after the for him. In his 400-page history, Japanese occupation. For the oc- Abdullah tells us how, in 1823, he casion it received a spring-clean- said farewell to Raffles on the ship ing. All the public buildings were which was to take him home to painted, and all its monuments England to die: were scrubbed. All save one: the “That day, to part with Sir obelisk on which, just one hundred Stamford Raffles was to me as the years before, had been inscribed, death of my parents. My regret in four languages, the faith that was not because of the benefits I gave the city life! had received, or because of his This monument — which is prob- greatness or attractions; but be- ably the most significant in the cause of his character and attain- British Empire, for it explains ments, because every word he said much — was left untouched beneath was sincere and reliable, because the grey lichen it had accumulated he never exalted himself or depre- over the years, forgotten by all ciated others. All these things have but the trade winds. Today, in the remained in my heart till now, and whole of Asia, the principles it ac- though I have seen many distin- claims survive only in the British guished men, many who were city of Hong Kong. clever, who were rich, who were Before ending, let us return to handsome — for character, for the Stamford Raffles. We shall always power of winning affection, and honor him for his great libertarian for talent and understanding, I views; but what kind of a man have never seen the equal of Sir was he in his everyday life among Stamford Raffles. Though I die his friends? Let the native -his- and live again, I shall never see torian of Malaya — Abdullah Ab- his peer.” oo 0 | eas ©% 8008877. The Protectionist “MR. ELEPHANT, won't you please raise your foot? You are standing right on top of me,” pleaded a wee ant. “What an ungrateful person you are,” rumbled the elephant. “Don’t you realize that none of your enemies can get at you, so long as you are under my foot?” “Get off!” stormed the ant. “If standing on my neck is your idea of protection, I can get along without it.” W, E, MACLAREN, Warren, Ohio ===== PAGE 15 ===== WE LIVE IN a time of great un- EDMUND A. OPITZ easiness, when the values of the free society which we cherish are being seriously challenged; chal- lenged not only by imperial com- munism abroad but also by dubious ideologies here at home. Even if by some miracle the communist challenge vanished overnight and the international scene ceased to trouble us, there is every reason to believe that we have enough do- mestic problems to keep us busy for the next generation. Outwardly, everything seems prosperous. Nearly everyone who really wants to work can find a job. Automobiles are bigger, fas- ter, and more numerous. Restau- rants and places of entertainment are crowded. There are increased opportunities for travel and rec- reation. In the cultural fields of religion and education, there is much activity. New church build- ings are springing up everywhere, and increasing numbers of people are participating in religious ac- tivities. In education, likewise. Year by year, we are spending a larger proportion of our income on schooling. More young people are in college every year, and com- munities all over the land are en- gaged in a mighty school building program. All of these things should give us a sense of satisfaction; but they don’t. There is probably more discontent now among our people than at any time in the history of this country. We view with alarm the rising incidence of crime and . Juvenile delinquency, the mount- ing problems of alcoholism and drug addiction. Then there is in- flation, causing prices to rise while at the same time it dilutes the value of our savings accounts and insurance policies. Government grows larger all the while, mark- - ing the stampede away from per- The Reverend Mr. Opitz is a member of the gonal responsibility which occurs staff of the Foundation for Economic Educa- . tion. at all levels of life. 13 ===== PAGE 16 ===== 14 THE FREEMAN September A recent writer has remarked seeking; reality, here as every- that “this is the goof-off, the age where, fell short of the professed of the half-done ‘job. Our land,” ideal. But even when the ideal he continues, “is populated with failed to show through the prac- laundrymen who won't iron shirts, tice, it was never wholly without with waiters who won't serve, with influence; for this ideal was in- carpenters who will come around scribed in a basic national docu- some day maybe, with business- ment, the Declaration of Indepen- men whose minds are on the golf dence, for all to see and many to course, with teachers who demand memorize. a single salary schedule so that achievements cannot be rewarded Emblem of American Ideals nor poor work punished, and with The Declaration of Independence students who take cinch courses was once the emblem of American because the hard ones make them idealism. The America of a former think.” How did we get ourselves day was not a mere place; it was into such a mess, and how can we more than a geographic area. get ourselves out of it? America was a world-wide symbol Perhaps the most helpful way to of the enduring human quest for face up to our present situation is a country in which each person to look at our past history. If we might be free. Most of us refer to wish to recover faith in ourselves the Declaration now and then and and in our free society, we must do so with reverence, but how understand what this faith is and many of us have read the Declara- what it meant to earlier genera- tion of Independence recently and tions. A new nation was brought read it carefully? It is worth read- forth upon this continent. What ing and re-reading and it repays was it like, and what was the careful study. source of its strength and ideal- The Declaration, in paragraph ism? 1, refers to “the laws of nature During the nineteenth century, and nature's God.” In paragraph the world of the defeated and the 2, the signers of the Declaration oppressed looked to America as a say that, as far as they are con- land of liberty and justice for all. cerned, they believe or accept as In large numbers, people came axiomatic, the proposition that the here to find freedom for them- Creator endowed men with certain selves and for their children. It rights. Other men might hold that goes without saying that they “rights” are granted by the State, didn’t always find what they were or else have a purely naturalistic ===== PAGE 17 ===== 1959 THE RELIGIOUS FOUNDATION OF A FREE SOCIETY 15 basis; “we hold’’ that these rights short, based on contrary princi- have a supernatural derivation, ples. i.e., they are God-given. The Cre- The American dream was not ator is sovereign. In other words, of a sovereign people, which in our Declaration of Independence practice comes down to mere ma- has a built-in religious dimension; jority rule; the American dream and the importance of this fact is has at its center the individual underscored by the absence of a person, endowed by God with cer- similar dimension from a compa- tain rights which no other indi- rable document issued in 1789, vidual nor combination of individ- thirtéen years after our own Dec- uals may properly transgress. Gov- laration, the French Declaration ernment itself must respect these of the Rights of Man and of Citi- individual rights, and government zens. serves the ends of freedom and justice by punishing any trespass on these private rights. The French Declaration, wish- This same respect for the indi- ing to set forth “these natural, vidual and this recognition of his imprescriptible, and unalienable rights and immunities which we rights’ says: “The national assem- find in the Declaration is reflected bly doth recognize and declare, in also in our Constitution. The men the presence of the Supreme Be- who drafted the Constitution did ing, and with the hope of His bles- not design a streamlined political sings and favor, the following structure. James Madison and the sacred rights of men and citizens.” others had been once burnt by gov- It will be noted that, although the ernment, and they were twice shy. Supreme Being is mentioned, he They created a political structure is invoked as a mere gesture of in which the federal government formality; he is not acknowledged was to be internally self-governed as the source of human rights. by three separate but balanced What then is this source accord- powers, and the several states were ing to the French Declaration? to retaintheiroriginal sovereignty Paragraph III tells us. “The na- in order to act as a counterpoise tion is essentially the source of all to the central authority. This en- sovereignty; nor can any individ- tire political equilibrium was bal- ual, or any body of men, be en- anced on the sovereign individual; ~ titled to any authority which is the only excuse for government not derived from it.” The French was to secure him in his rights. and American Revolutions are, in The Founding Fathers knew that A Study in Contrasts ===== PAGE 18 ===== 16 THE FREEMAN September a free government implies an un- is no longer a nation composed free people, so in the interests of merely of oppressor and oppressed. personal liberty they pinned down Before the State, there is now the their government to strictly limit- person, and above the State, there ed, defined, and delegated func- is God, his love and his justice tions. common to all men. The Founding Fathers were the A Great Religious Tradition inheritors of a great religious tra- Where did the Founding dition and the American dream of Fathers get this generous estimate a society of free men was largely of man? They were students of a projection of that religion. This history, and we know from their is how the original American equa- writings that they were thor- tion got its built-in religious di- oughly acquainted with the social mension. But this equation no and political institutions of ancient longer balances because the reli- Greece and Rome. But we also gious elements in it have been dis- know the Founding Fathers could carded or forgotten. In a sense, we not have derived their vision of have been merely coasting on a a free society composed of sover- momentum once given to us and eign persons if they had not looked with which we have now lost con- beyond the institutions of ancient tact. Such an analysis helps us Greece and Rome, for both these understand, I think, the discontent societies were founded on human and uncertainty to which I re- slavery. Hilaire Belloc, the his- ferred earlier. torian, describes this aspect of the Greco-Roman world: “The struc- A Solid Foundation ture and stuff of society was based The American dream was built upon and rooted in slavery. . . . upon a religious foundation. And Slavery became a mechanical and this was noted by a young French- oppressive burden weighing upon man who came to these shores to the human spirit and giving its study us back in the 1830’s, Alexis tone to all.” Then came Chris- de Tocqueville. “Religion,” he said tianity into this world, and the of us, “is the first of their political power of ancient despotism was institutions.” Political liberty is weakened. Christianity starts from the limitation of government to man as an individual person, en- the securing of men in their dowed with an immortal soul rights, and because these rights striving for its salvation. Wher- derive from religious premises, ever this doctrine is accepted, there political liberty needs to rest on a ===== PAGE 19 ===== 1959 THE RELIGIOUS FOUNDATION OF A FREE SOCIETY 17 religious foundation. To employ a simple. Many of the most artic- figure of speech, political liberty ulate church leaders of our time is a check drawn against the capi- are part of the problem, not part tal stock of our religious heritage. of the remedy. They have sought When a check bounces, the infer- to use the churches for their own ence is that there are no funds in ends, and so we are often presented the bank. Similarly, we cannot go with a counterfeit faith. But there on drawing upon our religious are churches of all faiths which heritage unless we systematically “proclaim liberty throughout the replenish it. How do we rehabili- land,” and at least they point the tate our religious heritage? direction in which we must look I wish it were possible at this for our answers. The men of such point to offer you a simple answer. churches once created the Ameri- I wish it were possible to say that can dream, and the men of such all we need to do is go back to churches today can, if they will, church. But the answer is not so recreate it. oo» Sn - - pr agen BN =: KYL Tov.