Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-08-28
Something New
Under the Sun
BY DIR. RUTH ALEXANDER


feel like saying what about it," What about
the United States of America-which is not only
the newest thing in government, but is actually
something new under the sun.
For thousands of years government was an
agency of control over the people. And govern
ments had varied only in degree of control. Some
had been despotic. Some had been casual. A few
had been wise and kindly. But all had been
agencies of control Under whatever names they
existed, the government-meaning the profess
sional politicians-had told the people what to do
OR ELSE
Even Magma Charta, the so-called "origi-
nator" of modern freedom, was still an agency of
control over the people. 1t gave them more free
dom than they had ever had before. But it
"GRANTED" THEM THIS FREEDOM AS A
SPECIAL RIGHT CONFERRED BY THE Gov
EMINENT ITSELF.
That was going pretty far. But not far
enough
1t remained for US to go the whole distance.
And not only did we go farther in the amount
of freedom allowed" to the people but we re-
versed the entire relationship formerly existing
between the government and the people.
We fixed it so that the PEOPLE WERE THE
AGENCY OF CONTROL OVER THE GOVERN
MENT
That was something new under the sun.
WE SAID that no government, however wise or
w kindly, could possibly grant" freedom to its
citizens. Because we were BORN free.
We said that we FREEBORN citizens would
graciously grant" a limited measure Of freedom
to the government to act in supervisory capacity
over u.s. But ce took care to state that this super
rision lcds not control. And we inaugurated
seres'of checks and double-checks to keep it at
a minimum.
Our politicians, who compose the government,
or the state were to be only temporary custodians
of our supervision. They were to serve short
terms. The majority of them were to be elected.
And they were to be called SERVANTS. The
word rule" was detestable then-as now.
The whole concept was called popular SOW
ereignty." 1t turned the former historic function
of the state topsy-turvy And it made us the
laughing stock of Europe and of the snobs
among us.
CTRANGELY enough-or so it seemed-we
~ thrived without restraint Each man was an
agency of control over himself He need ask no
favors of the state because the state was HIS
creature and existed Suferance of faithful
service and acceptance Of short terms Of office
with good grace.
Strangely enough-Or so it seemed-man was
not only happier and freer but he more pro-
ductive than before in human history. He
became, indeed the envy of the world that had
laughed at his experiment"
In time, those who envied us sought to
destroy us.
Europe sent her destroyers-not tanks and
planes and guns But IDEAS. Smooth and softly
spoken men and women with IDEAS that were
loathsome and reactionary and ancient. IDEAS
that would give government the upper hand once
again IDEAS that would put mankind right back
at the old stand of cringng before the state as he
begged her favors.
Europe and those false Americans among us
called these ideas new They said the new"
RULERS would govern "for the go.d of" their
subjects-once freeborn citizens. They insuted
us by implying we could no longer take care of
ourselves"
Isn't it about time that we caught on?
We had the TRUE NEW" freedom
No one could-or can-take it from U.S.
But we can give it up of our free will and