INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY.
The founders of this republic believed that that State was governed best which was governed least. They taught that a government was simply an association of individuals designed to preserve order and administer justice. Aside from this, the individual was to be left to work out his destiny unchecked by the hindrances of governmental regulation, or the weakening influence of paternalism. The men who framed our Constitution were thoroughly acquainted with, and had suffered much from, the evils of despotism and over-government, and fully realized that all things were subsidiary to, and dependent upon, the blessing of liberty. So long as this spirit dominated our politics, America made great strides in every department of human activity. Inspired by every natural incentive to human energy, men wrung from savage conditions all the necessary elements of a great civilization. But a change has come over the spirit of our dream. Our ideas of life and governmental function have become emasculated. Individual responsibility seems odious to the people. People have ceased to rely upon their own efforts, and are now always clamoring for the government to do something for them. It is plain that national stamina has deteriorated, that there is less energy and thrift, and that, in our weakened condition, we are peculiarly exposed to the temptations held out by paternalism and State socialism. There is but one choice in this life for a man. This choice lies between individual ownership of self, with all the powers, privileges, and responsibilities which such ownership implies, or the being owned by a power which may be capricious, oppressive, despotic at will. We can not have both freedom and paternalism. If we fly from the surface hardships of individual responsibility to the deceitful rest of a paternalistic or socialistic government, we barter our glorious birthright of freedom for the rule of ignorant, prejudiced, and short-sighted politicians. All tyranny is one in its essence, whether it be a tyranny of the minority or of the majority. Any government is destructive and subversive of the best interests of society, which aims to level and protect humanity. Society is not a crystallized institution. It is progressive, constantly impelled on by the vis a tergo of necessity. A paternalistic government, or State socialism, would deprive society of this impelling force, and render aspiring effort flat, stale, and unprofitable. No amount of government regulation can annihilate the thousand and one natural causes which produce differences in the abilities of men; and to promote the growth of civilization, these abilities must be given free scope. There must be justice for the strong and the fruitful, as well as for the weak and unproductive. . . . We must return to the political views of Hamilton, Washington, and Jefferson. We must understand that it is not the business of a government to meddle with the private rights of individuals under any pretense whatsoever; the prerogative of government is to defend and maintain them only. We must do all we can through our schools, our press, our lecture halls, pulpits, clubs, and political organizations, to encourage the growth of individualism—that power upon which all civilization and progress hinge. If we do not adopt this course, if we continue to dream of a governmental Utopia, we shall eventually fall a prey to a tyranny beside which the despotisms of the Old World pale into insignificance, and our forefathers will have suffered and struggled in vain.—Medical Brief.