Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-04-24

which Mr.. Lloyd George emphasized
when he said, touching the grave
economic problems Of England's war after
math: Individual enterprise must remain
the supreme active power in the production
of wealth and we'll being"
This is traditional and dominant idea
of what we call Anglo-Saxon institutions.
For a long age it has been one Of the prime
principles of our American democracy. To
leave the individual as large a measure OF
free initiative and reward as is consistent
with common security and common rights
was the aim of this republics builders and
has been the most fertile force in its ma
terial development.
But in these latter years a contrary cur
rent has set in. Special perplexities and
wrongs having risen, there has been in
divers quarters an impatient demand to
grapplN them, not with the old energies and
old integrities of our political life, but by
expedients which tend to make less and
less of individual rights, and consequently
of individual responsibility and originative-
ness We do not mean the emergency de-
vices yesorted to in the stress of war; those,
in the main, were imperatively needed, and
the extraordinary reins of power which went
with them were cheeraul1y granted by pa
triotic people. The Objectionable thing is
i that in times free from war pressure so much
dependence should be placed upon govern
mental MISREPRESENTATION and rules
imposed from without-rather than upon
that organized self-control' which is the
essence of democracy and of social prog
ress. AS in most proverbs, there is but half
truth in the Jeffersonian saying that they
are the best governed people Who are the
least governed. But it is the very half unto
which we shall do we'll to take heed in days
when the temptation is all too strong to
shift individual responsibilities and to I'M
dervalue individual freedom as power for
progress.
There is scarcely a sphere Of present-day
life In which this idea cannot be profitably
reasserted. Mr.. Lloyd George affirmed it
and enforced it at a crucial moment in Eng
lands economic history, with the result that
difficulties which otherwise might easily
have waxed overwhelming are being steadily
mastered 1t was at the height of class de-
mand Tor the specialization of certain great in
dustries-a demand which, had it been yielded
to, would eventually have taken in all indus
tries and, perhaps, all business-that the
clear-headed Prime Minister declared: en-
OlFIuuol ouISIpIlS0 uuSC remain the supreme
active power in the production of wealth and
well being" Standing steadfast to that
principle the English Government and the
English people are shouldering burdens Of
taxation which. upon less productive basis
OF economic effort, would be insupportable
Wen has it been said that "the willingness
of these few score millions to tax them
selves in billions, and their ability to pay
their taxes without default on their debts.
or the adoption OF follies and heresies in
search of escape from them, is proof that the
German idea is defeated, as well as Germany.
alike for England and for all countries with
her character"
MOI oy making the state either a despotic
or paternalistic power to which all else is
supord1nated, but by leaving the originatiye
and highly human elements of life as free
as common sense allows, will the best exer-
!lons OF men be encouraged and their best
impulses be practiced and strengthened
rms IS anything but an enticing short cut to
the solutions for which we grow so impa-
LEM on tnls Detuddling planet but it is an
honest, dependable highway to real MOS
perity and real progress ~