The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1956-02-18

military defenses, at whatever
cost, to deter the Soviet I'm
ion from launching the Their
mo-nuclear weapons which
threaten the end of civilza-
ton as we know it.
Second: We must build and
improve an American foreign
policy which will deal with all
the nations of the world -
not on the basis of cynical
enlightened Self-intereSt" -
but on the basis of the natur-
al and inalienable rights and
obligations of all.
Third: And this is specific:
we must assume the respon-
sibility of demonstrating to
the whole world, both slave
and free, by the treatment of
all our own citizens that the
American philosophy of gov
eminent must prevail over the
Totalitarian. This can be done
IN no better way than by i'm
proving the practical program
of civil liberties here in these
United States. And that pro-
gram can be improved.
For the fundamental pyin-
ctpleS of the natural Ian, I'M
tUerSal and immutable as the
hLmGn nature from z0hich
they derive, require rational
application to the constantly
changing political, economic
and social cond.ttteas of ciUl
society. The application of the
natural lao poStulates change
as the circumstances of hu-
man existence changes. 1t re-
pudtoteS naive and snluo
complacency in the status quo.
II demands a reasonable ac-
ceptance OF the good, and a
rejection OF the bad, in all
that is neio. 1t commands a
critical search for the better.
1t requires an exhaustive
scrutiny OF all the available
data Of history, politics, econ
o1fltcS, sociology, psychology,
philosophy, and eUerv other
pertinent font OF human
Eno10ledge. OF primary i'm
portance, it insists that the
search for better corpus jur-
IS be made In the light of the
origin, nature, dignity and
destiny OF man, and in the
knowledge OF the origin, na-
ture, purpose and limitations
Of the state.
This is not an eaSy task.
Natural lGlU does indeed i'm
ply the existence of some hn-
man rights Which are absolute
and inalienable, such as the
right to life, Worship, mar
rage, property, labor, speecr.
locomotion, assembly, reputa-
ton, etc. These are absolute
IN the sense that then dertue
from human nature; thep are
not mere hand outs from the
state. They are not absolute
IN the sense that then are an
limited in scope. 1t is com
monplace IN classical natural
laao philosophy that human
rights, eUen the most funda-
mental mentioned aboUe, are
limited. They are limited in
the sense that they are sub
1ect TO specification, qualitica-
tlon, expansion and contrdc-
ton, and eUen forfeiture OF
exercise, as the equal ri0hts
ot Others and the demands
of the common coed from cir
cumStance to circumstance
and from time to time, rea-
sondbly Indicate. uman rfohts
are absolute only in the
sense OF the miaimaI REQUIRE
mentS OF Just and ordered
liberty.
The American philosophy of
government. the natural law
with its inalienable rights. Is
not self-executing. The Bill Of
Rights itself, and the other
civil liberties guaranteed by
Articles l, III, ", and vi. and
by Amendments XIII, XIV and
XIV are not self-executing.
These Articles and Amend
ments need and demand pl
teal augmentation by way
OF judicial Interpretation, sta
tutory enactments, and sim
cere acceptance in our own
/ personal and private lives.
In the field OF judicial in
. depreciation, Brc0n q. The