Why Don't You Propose Something Constructive? F. Chodorov

Everyone of the proposed reforms has something to commend it, while the sincerity of the proponents makes one wish that they might succeed. The fact remains, how ever, that the reform invariably rests its case on the good will, intelligence, and selflessness of men who,invested with the power to do so, will put the reform into operation. And the lesson of history is that power is never so used. Never. I am convinced, on the other hand, that all of the evils of which these honest people complain can be traced to the misuse of power, and am therefore inclined to dis[259 ] trust political power of any kind.... The only ~~construc tive" idea that I can in all conscience advance, then, is that the individual put his trust in himself, not in power; that he seek to better his understanding and lift his values to a higher and still higher level; that he assume responsibility for his behavior and not shift his responsibility to commit tees, organizations and, above all, a superpersonal State.

Such reforms as are necessary will come of themselves when, or if, men act as intelligent and responsible human beings. There cannot be a "good" society until there are "good" men. [260 ] CONSCRIPTION tlj ~aniet Wet~ter PART I It has been said of Daniel Webster (1782-1852), the great American statesman and orator, that his massive mind needed the spur of a great national crisis to make him render his best with words befitting a nation hanging in the balance. Such a situation, he felt, was that of the closing months of 1814, shortly before the end of the conflict with England. Under the pressure of war needs for men and money, a conscription hill was then before Congress, backed by the Secretary of War, in order to further the conflict for the con quest of Canada. Except for the headings, the follow ing is extracted from his speech in the House of Rep resentatives on December 9, 1814, a copy of which is on exhibit at the New Hampshire Historical Society.