He is on his own. Despite curbs and checks on its power, and its inaction in a world of conflict, a government designed for freedom is a natural leader. The creative power of a free nation by far excels that of socialist or interventionist countries of similar size. And it is productive strength that lends the position of leadership to a country in a world that is always fighting or preparing to fight. But leadership that exerts potent influence toward world peace and prosperity springs from a more important source than material and military might.
True leadership grows out of impeccable behavior and moral conduct. . . .
Above all, such a nation must refrain from any act of economic nationalism. It must adhere to its own design for freedom. To reprimand other nations for policies of economic nationalism while waging economic war upon its own neighbors would be hypocrisy and sanctimony. . . . A leading nation must also reject the immoral principle that one act of economic nationalism by one government sanctions the nationalistic policies of all other governments. This is the principle that crime becomes righteousness if a previous crime has remained unpunished.