Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-02-28

/
ing Of an hour which must become
stricting association rights OF
association. believe that the great
power secured by wealth 70 those
who possess it needs some restric-
tion, but fancy Il should not be
constitutional. For any restriction
of association will necessarily limit
the freedom of action. of the indi-
vidual, curtail his liberty and in
crease the number of State func-
tionaries. Now, every increase of
State functionaries Is diverting from
nobler purposes much of the best
talent of the country, because it is
multiplying office-seekers, who sac
rifice the right to individual thought
for the fidelity to party principles.
And that is un-American, in Wash
ingtons' Interpretation of the
thought, and untrue to his forecast
of the future. The country is en-
couraged along that line of activity
by the loud call I'M foreign speech
that is heard across the continent.
In the name of liberty now they ask
the State to become founding
house and to take away from the
father solicitude for his home, de-
nying him the right to possess in
struments of gain and the right to
distribute the natural product of
his energy. What must result?
Home is home. strong in its
beautiful influences Just because of
the relations which depend upon the
dependence of the children on the
wage Garner II is the fathers safe
guard against temptation to .unsocial
life. II is the stimulus to- rever-
ence. piety and devotedness which
continue the characteristics of the
individual family and give the
beauty of purity to free people.
And just as it tends to destroy fam
lily life by taking away from the
father all solicitude and care for the
morrow. so .does 1t tend to destroy
liberty.
have said that power was
naturally centralizinx. Property is
decentralizing. 1t. tezds 70 resist
the encroachment OF the state upon
individual rights and individual
privileges. 1t tends to yield only in
those things that are absolutely
necessary for good order. 1t tends
to keep in the hands of the indi-
vidual and associations the instru-
mepts of production. A good man
has a right to his own activity. He
has a right to a reasonable share of
the product of his activity. That is
natural right, prior to any social
contract. Because man, before he
was social, was an individual. The
rights that are his by virtue of
nature and prior to his social life
are his inalienably. So liberty and
property are mutually involved. If
one must be sacrificed, the other is
lost. That was we'll illustrated in
one of our great papers during the
Balkan war. At the head of lead
ing column one morning appeared
the words: ''The Balkan Farmers
Are Irresistible" There we're men
made free by rights of property re-
sisting professional soldiery mar
shaled by the high authority of
State. There were free men pitted
in the field against slaves. And
free men are heroes. Why? Be-
cause there are interests that are
sacred. Home country - mean
much to one who has a share in the
country's wealth. property and
power.
Home and country mean nothing
to the slaves. And for me. I should
rather any day be a half-fed freeman
than a glutted slave.
Is there any reason for this
alarm? | have also studied care
fully the growth OF a certain idea
and policy within the last twenty
years. We are welcoming. think,
too heartily too much State inter-
ference with our personal affairs,
and consequently with our individual
liberty. We are encouraging the
State to its strict association of
rights and power. | grant II is nee
essary because of the selfishness of
man, but | sincerely hope that II
may never influence the majority
in this. our country, so as to incor-
porate such restrictions into what |
call the constitution. Men are ex-
cited by their cycle of abuse. There
are few who have an opportunity TO
learn the benefits and blessings 10
this country of capitalized wealth.
1t has created a haven for peace
and a home of plenty for the starv-
ing multitude of Europe. Capitalized
wealth has opened up the treasures
of America a good half century be-
fore they would have been touched
II the development had depended
upon the State action. And II there
were great gains there we're also
lot of risks. and only capitalized
wealth will risk
have seen valleys made TO bios
som from rough rocks, granite
mountains pierced. hidden treasures
produced from what recently were
unknown lands to enrich the multi
tude, and when I ask who is II that
has created this empire OF oppor-
unity am told II Is Mr.. Hill. Mr.
Hartman or his predecessors.
<now there are many 70 upbraif
heir beneficent deeds. But all arr
brown together hotch-potch for IN
discriminate denunciation.
We were reaching solutio'
twenty-five years ago when thef
reat interests involving power an
'ealth were held BY few.
A.. -.