Evening star., 1928-04-17
TEXT OF PRESIDENTS SPEECH
BEFORE CONGRESS OF D. A. R.
Mr.. Coolidge Deplores Tendency to Invest
Powers of Local Self Government
In Federal Bureaus.

charters and naturally inherent in
their right as freemen They cheer
fully admitted the sovereignty of the
mother country over them while at the
same time asserting the long-estab-
lishcd privilege. which was theirs under
the constitution Of the realm, to pay
no taxes except those which were the
self-imposed levies of their own legis-
latures.
The essentials of government. and
especially control of the purse strings.
unless they we're to relinquish their
freedom they knew they must keep in
their own hands. II it was to be dele
gated at all, they wished to delegate
1t only to representatives of their own
choosing It was obvious that the far
Their away from them the power OF
government was located. and the less
control they had over II. the more
danger there was that IL would be ex-
ercised arbitrarily and despoticalIy.
Rather than submit TO these dangers
they reSorted to the war which gave
them independence.
What they were contending for was
primarily the rights of the individual
the security of life. of liberty. and OF
property, They wished him to be pro-
vided with an assurance of justice near
his own home and 10 be protected from
all unreasonable irnpositions by the
hand of authority. They sought to
make him free TO manage his own af-
fairs. whether they we're economic, po-
htical or religious. This was the heavi-
est responsibility that was ever UNDER
taken by anv people In the world But
they knew. as We know. that there is
no other foundation on which liberty
and equality can rest.
People Recapture Control.
THE history OF the past $50 years
has demonstrated that so far our coun-
try has been able to discharge this re-
s,onsibility. At certain times and in
certain places We have been neglectful
OF 1t, and the power of self-govern-
ment, instead of being retained by the
people, has been exercised by those
who we're serving their own private
interest rather than the public welfare
But the people have always aroused
themselves and recaptured the control
OF their own affairs Sometimes they
have been tempted by specious presen-
tations TO believe that in some way
they could live of the Government and
get something for nothing. without hav-
ing 70 make compensation through
their labor or their loss Of freedom.
1T is the righteous duty of society
10 assist the disproportionately weak
and afflicted That Is the meaning of
charity The same duty requires the
protection of the individual against
crime and wrongdoing. That is the
meaning Of security. But the average
run OF the people must be personally
responsible for their own affairs and
their own success. Under our institu-
tions they cannot evade this duty by
attempting To shift 1t upon the Gov
eminent. for they are themselves the
Government. Unless they discharge
this obligation themselves. there is no
one that can discharge II for them.
To attempt any other method Is 70
deny that the principle Of freedom.
equality. and Seh-goveTnment Is sound.
IF the American Revolution had one
note that was more dominant than
another. 1t was the principle that the
people were competent to run their
own business and manage their own
government. That was the paean OF
emancipation that rang high and clear
through the whole period. II was an
appeal to the people 10 emerge from
their weakness and their servitude and
rely on their own strength and courage
tn NlIlQnGE tbE lllEttlSSiNES u p4ACS NA
power and freedom. The determina-
ton Of the individual to stand alone.
unaided and independent, required q
high degree Of character. The colo-
niSts had had enough OF aristocracy, of
monopoly and OF tyranny so that they
were willing 10 take their chances with
ordered liberty.
The question is always before US of
whether We are TO have the capacity,
the courage and the character 10 main
tain the high ideals which they estab-
iiShed
Seek Treasury Funds.
There are always those who are
willing to surrender local self-govern-
ment and turn over their affairs TO
some national authority in exchange
for q payment OF money out OF the
Federal Treasury Whenever they find
that some abuse needs correction in
their neighborhood. instead OF apply
Ing q remedy themselves. they seek 10
have a tribunal sent on from Wash
ington TO discharge their duties for
them, regardless Of the fact that In
accepting such supervision they are
hartering away their freedom. Such
actions are always taken on the as
sumption that they are public bene-
flt
Somewhere. Lincoln said something
To the effect that tyrants always be-
strode the neekS of the people upon