I would, however, strongly maintain that the general conception of the State as Over-parent is quite as truly Liberal as Socialistic. It is the basis of the rights of the child, of his protection against parental neglect, of the equality of opportunity which he may claim as a future citizen, of his training to fill his place as a grown-up person in the social system. Many of these struggles present the problem of liberty in its simplest form. But at the back of national movements very difficult questions do arise. There is no doubt that the general tendency of Liberalism is to favor autonomy, but these lines of autonomy must rest on history and practical statesmanship.
Similar questions arise about race, which many people wrongly confuse with nationality.
It is of the essence of Liberalism to oppose the use of force, the basis of all tyranny. It is one of its practical necessities to withstand the tyranny of militarism, which eats into free institutions and absorbs the public resources which might go to the advancement of civilization. In proportion as the world becomes free, the use of force becomes meaningless. We have now passed the main phases of the Liberal movement in very summary review, and we have noted, first, that it is co-extensive with life. It is concerned with the individual, the family, the State.