Evening star., 1936-10-08
Undermining Foundations

dOOTcSSlnS HiulClLuOc ShCiicIco Aoi eiiS
one hundredth and eightieth commence
ment of the institution of higher learn
ing over which he has presided with
distinction since 1902, discussed the un-
willingness Of Americans in general to
think about their problems. They pre-
fer the emotional to the intellectual life, "
he said, land would choose to follow
Rousseau rather than Voltaire.
AS a Nation we pay heavy penalty for
this trait of ours, and just now we
appear to be preparing an especially
heavy payment, OF the existence and
character Of which we seem to be quite
oblivious."
To illustrate his point, DR.. Butler then
explained that the founders of the Re-
public set up carefully described Gov
ernment and gave it clearly defined and
strictly limited powers" They also EN-
phasized in the strongest possible lam
guage the fact that all powers not def
nitely and specifically delegated to Gov
ernment were retained" by the people
Such line between the organized state
and unopeanized liberty ever since has
been maintained as essential TO the
preservation of the American form Of
Government. as well as to the happiness
and prosperity of our people and to the
achievement of their ideals"
But DR.. Butler continued, 1T quickly
became characteristic Of the American
people that q large portion of their
public service, perhaps even a major por-
ton, was rendered by them Voluntarily"
They did not look to Government for any
institutionalization Of religion, educa-
ton, art, science and sociology. Instead,
mon profit making institutions of every
sort and kind were brought into exist
ence in the field of liberty to render
public service. Quite apart from the
churches, which were to be wholly
separate from Government, these were
institutions of intellectual, social and
philanthropic public, service of the high
est Importance" Hospitals, homes for
the dependent, libraries, museums, col
leges and universities were included in
the list Of these institutions which
are in no sense governmental, but
in every sense public"
Now, however, in recent years there
has developed q new tendency, strange
ly un-American, even anti-American"-
habit of turning to Government, par
ticularly the Federal Government, for
help or for dole whenever any form of
public service, built up in the field Of
liberty, is In doubt or in need" DR..
Butler frankly insisted: Surely it must
be clear that to follow this course is to
enter on the path Of destruction.
the field of liberty is not to be destroyed,
then q scheme Of taxation for the sup
port Of Government and its activities
must be devised which will not under
mine the foundations upon which it
rests and has rested so long. To wreck
or even to cripple these tens of thou
sands Of public service undertakings
would be to strike blow at the Ameri-
can people from which they might never
recover"
The danger is far more drastically
real and pressing than might be sup
posed. DR.. Butler concluded his presen-
tation with the words There can be no
valid objection to those policies on the
part of Government which do as much
as Government can do to prevent one
citizen from unfairly and unjustly ex-
plotting his fellows; but care must be
taken that the cure be not worse than
the disease. What Government does
is almost certain to be done less well
than what liberty does - Surely even
a reasonable measure of reflection will
make 1t clear to every one that If the
power and opportunity to render mag
nificent and many sided public service
in the field Of liberty is to be destroyed
by taxation, and II thereby activities Of
Government are to be multiplied and
their advantages vigorously contended
for by organized and self-seeking mi
norities, our whole American scheme of
life and thought and Government '''
will have come to an end. 1t is not
necessary to destroy q great human
achievement by open and plainly visible
attack. This end can be even better and
more quickly reached by undermining,
perhaps quite unconsciously, the ,founda-
tions on which 1t rests"
The logic of DR.. Buffers warning was
important when it first was submitted to
the consideration of his countrymen; it
Is doubly important today when the
electorate is preparing for the greatest
decision of national policy since the
Civil War.
Moments Marvellous.
When William of Norma ndv roarcheh