The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-26

This is a very elementary eX-
ample of how civilization is ad-
vanced by specialization and
trade. We all know the aberra-
tionS and injusticeS which have
accompanied the process, but the
fact remains that a peaceful trad
ing society based on natural adj
vantages leads to a better way of
life for all. To the degree that
trade is artif1cally bounded, the
world as a whole falls short of
developing regional advantages
and native skills.
Adam Smith made much of this
point in his great book, The
Wealth of Nations" published in
l776. England's trade policy of
the nineteenth century derived in
some part from his clear-cut and
truly noble concept of a world eX-
changing freely of its best. But
Adam Smith held that trade let
alone laisSeZ-faire" would bal
anCe and govern itself for the
general good. We know now from
bitter experience that there is no
such magic in "laiSSez-faire." Alb
sOlutely free competition, con-
Quoted nationally or on a world
scale. produces uncomfortable over
concentrations of G GODS and
power. When the pressure gets
too high, we have a war or an
interior outburst, and the dreary
cycle begins anew.
That was the old deal. 1t was
the product of unbridled greed
and opportuniSm. I hope that We
are through with it. We have
come perforce to think in terms
not of free production and trade,
but of planned production and
trade, within and between ma
tiOnS. Nevertheless, Adam Smiths
refusal to draw petty little lines
of locality around concepts of
trade and civilization may prop
erly. I think, move our minds and
hearts to large efforts now.
To a free people the pain of
nationaliSm is actual AS yet, we
have applied in this country only
the barest beginnings of the sort
Of social discipline which a COM
pletely determined nationalism
requires. In previous pages have
raised the question whether we
as a people have the patience and
fortitude to go through with an
international program when the
world seems with varying degrees
of panic to be Stampeding the
other way. 1t is quite as serious
a question whether we have the
resolution and staying power to
swallow all the words and deeds
of our robust, individualist past,
and submit to completely army
like, nationalist discipline in
peace time. With the world as it
is today. thorough-going nation
aliSm often requires no less. If
you doubt that. consider even the
little news Of strictly national
lied countries, under dictator
ships. which leaks into American
newspapers and magazines, still
clamorous and free.
Our own maneuvers of social
discipline to date have been mild
" persuasive and democratic We
have paid cash to farmers to CO.
operate in necessary reductions or
acreage, pro-rata. We have ap-
pealed to the patriotism of cor
porate and individual manufac-
turerS, tranSporterS and store
keepers. with a passing PARKWAY
appeal to consumer sentiment for
a necessary reduction in working
hours and raises of pay. We have
called for criticism and have
heard it, so far as the pressure of
events allowed. receptively. Fol-
lowing since March 4, last. new
design for American life. we have
been letting people out Of jail for
crime of expressing disagreement,
instead of putting them in.
want to see things go on that
way. I would hate to live in a
country where individual thought
is punished and stifled, and where
speech is no longer free. Even if
the strictest nationalist discipline
reared for us here at home, ex-
cluSively, a towering physical
standard Of living. would con-