Evening star., 1924-09-22


of ourselves. 1t needs to be remem-
bered that 1t has to be secured not
through the action of others, but
through our own actions. Liberty
Is not collective, 1t is personal All
liberty Is individual liberty
"Coincident' with the right of in
dividual liberty under the provisions
OF our Government is the right of in
dlvidual property. The position
which the individual holds in the con-
ception of American institutions is
higher than that ever before attained
anywhere else on earth 1t is ac-
knowledged and proclaimed that he
has sovereign powers. 1t is declared
that he is endowed with inalienable
rights which no majority, however
great, and no power of the Govern
ment. however broad, can ever be
justified in violating. The principle
OF equality is recognized 1t follows
inevitably from belief in the brother
hood of man through the fatherhood
or God. When once the right of the
individual to liberty and equality is
admitted, there is no escape from the
conclusion that he alone is entitled
to the rewards Of his own industry.
Any other conclusion would neces-
sarily imply either privilege or servi-
tude. Here again the right of indi-
vidual property is for the protection
of society.
When service is performed the in
dividual performing it is entitled to
the compensation for it. His creation
becomes part of himself. 1t Is his
property To attempt to deal with
persons or with property in a COM
munistic or socialistic way is to deny
what seems to me to be this plain
fact. Liberty and equality require
chan he
paid for equal service to the individ-
ual who performs it. Socialism and
communism cannot be reconciled
with the principles which our insti-
tutions represent They are entirely
foreign, entirely un-American We
stand wholly committed to the policy
that what the individual produces be-
longs entirely to him to be used by
him for the benefit of himself, to
provide for his own family and to
enable him to serve his fellow men.
or course, we are all aware that
the recognition of brotherhood brings
in the requirement of charity. But it
Is only on the basis of individual
property that there can be any char
ity. our very conception OF the term
means that we deny ourselves of
what belongs to us, in order to give
1t to another. If that which we give
is not really our own, but belongs to
the person to whom we give 1t, such
an act may rightfully be called JUS
tice. but it cannot be regarded as
charity
Our conceptions Of liberty under
the law are not narrow and cramped,
but broad and tolerant Our Consti-
tuition guarantees civil. political and
religious liberty; fully. completely
and adequately; and provides that
no religious test shall ever be re.
qulred as qualification TO any office
or public trust under the United
States This is the essence of free
dom and federation solemnly declared
in the fundamental law of the land.
These are some of our American
standards. These principles, in the
province to which they relate, be-
stow upon the people all there IS to
bestow. They recognize in the people
all that there Is to recognize. They
are the ultimates. There is no be-
yond. They are solely for the benefit
and advantage of all the people If
any change is made in these. prin-
ciples it will not be by giving more
to the people, but by taking from
them something of that which they
now have. 1t cannot be progress. 1t
must be reaction. / do not say that
we. as citizens. have always held our
selves to proper observance of these
standards toward each other. but We
have. nevertheless, established them
and declared our duty to be obedience
to them. This is the American ideal
of ordered liberty under the law. 1t
calls for rigid discipline.
ReversiOn to Jungle Life.
What wide difference between
the American position and that imag-
nc hN-
of liberty as a glorious feast unpro-
tected and unregulated by law. This
is not civilization, but a plain re-
version to the life of the jungle.
Without the protection of the law.
and the imposition of it's authority.
h.. Il -