Evening star., 1928-04-17

the plea that It was for their good. He
might have added that the people suf-
fered the rule OF tyranny In the hope
that 1t would be easier than TO rule
themselves. We have built our insti-
tutions around the rights Of the indi-
vidual. We believe he will be better
Off IL he looks after himself. We be-
lieve that the municipality. the State
and the Nation win each be better off
II they look after themselves. We do
not know Of any other theory that
harmonizes with our conception of
true manhood and true womanhood.
We have long since realized that we
have become one Nation. But it Is a
Nation founded on the individual States
Their rights ought always 10 be scrupu-
lously regarded Unless their actions
are such as TO violate the Constitution
and seriously interfere with the rights
OF other States they should be left TO
solve their own problem in their own
way under the pressure of public opin-
ion. rather than have outside authority
step In to attempt TO solve IL for them
II we are going 70 have local self-gov-
eminent. with all Of its advantages. We
cannot escape from some of its limita-
tions
when authority is located afar of
1t is necessarily less well informed, less
sympathetic and less responsive TO pub
lie requirements. When 1t Is close at
hand 1t is more likely to be executed
publicly and in the public interest
Having personal contact, IL is more
humane and more charitable. On the
other hand. rights cannot be long pre-
served unless they are accompanied by
a d scharge of obligations States
rights cannot be used indefinitely TO
perpetuate national wrongs.
Business Is Private.
to depart from these ideals. We are
especially prone to call on the National
Government TO take over our burdens,
and with them our freedom. Through
regulations and commissions We have
given the most arbitrary authority over
our actions and our property into the
hands OF few men. Some Of this has
been necessary TO prevent those who
are weak from being overcome by those
who are strong. But it is a procedure
fraught with considerable danger. and
should only be adopted as last resort.
There is one field however which be-
longs to the people upon which they
have uniformly insisted that the Fed
eral Government should not trespass.
That is the domain ofprivate business.
Society requires certain public activi-
ties. like highways and drainage, which
are used In common and can best be
provided by the Government But in
general the country is best served
through the competition Of private en-
terprise. If the people are to remain
politically free. they must be economi-
cally free. Their only hope in that
direction is for them TO keep their own
business in their own hands.
Our theory of society rests on a
higher level than communism. We
want the people to be the owners Of
their property in their own right. We
recognize that they are all capitalists
BY nature We want them to be all
capitalists in fact That result Is be-
ing approached rapidly. Our system is
demonstrating by practice that It
works.
THE theories which are advanced 70
entice the people into handing their
private affairs over 10 the Government
do not take into account all the facts.
The fundamental characteristics Of hu-
manity are not going to be changed By
substituting Government action for
private enterprise The individual who
manages the one. VIII ali MS Hupef4eC-
tions and his SelhshneSs, viii have 20
be employed TO manage the other. The
very essence Of business is the expecta-
| ton Of a profit on the part OF those
who conduct IL. Government Is con-
Quoted from an entirely different mo-
tive.
Business Is Run for Profit.
When business Is in private hands.
Ii is expected 70 be run for the benefit
OF the owners When the Government
steps in. the purchasers. users and
beneiiciarieS Of what the Government
undertakes to supply insist that the
concern should be conducted for their
benefit. IL does not eliminate selfish
ness. Ii simply transfers ii in part
from the seller to the purchaser. Under
these conditions 1t ceases TO be q real