The Candlemakers' Petition; F. Bastiat

58-59. [135 ] manufacturers of candles. Since we have always served our country well, gratitude demands that our country ought not to abandon us now to this unequal competi tion. We hope that you gentlemen will not regard our petition as mere satire, or refuse it without at least hearing our reasons in support of it. First, if you make it as difficult as possible for the people to have access to natural light, and thus create an increased demand for artificial light, will not all domestic manufacturers be stimulated thereby? For example, if more tallow is consumed, naturally there must be more cattle and sheep. As a result, there will also be more meat, wool, and hides. There will even be more manure, which is the basis of agriculture. Next, if more oil is consumed for lighting, we shall have extensive olive groves and rape fields. Also, our wastelands will be covered with pines and other resinous trees and plants. As a result of this, there will be numerous swarms of bees to increase the produc tion of honey. In fact, all branches of agriculture will show an increased development.

The same applies to the shipping industry. The in creased demand for whale oil will then require thousands of ships for whale fishing. In a short time, this will result in a navy capable of upholding the honor of our country and gratifying the patriotic sentiments of the candle makers and other persons in related industries. The manufacturers of lighting ~xtures-candlesticks, lamps, candelabra, chandeliers, crystals, bronzes, and so [ 136] on-will be especially stimulated. The resulting ware houses and display rooms will make our present-day shops look poor indeed. The resin collectors on the heights along the seacoast, as well as the coal miners in the depths of the earth, will rejoice at their higher wages and increased prosper ity. In fact, gentlemen, the condition of every citizen of our country-from the wealthiest owner of coal mines to the poorest seller of matches-will be improved by the success of our petition.

[ 137] EDUCATION IS A PRIVATE RESPONSIBILITY I HAVE had a continuing interest in the schools of our country ever since, as a boy, I was plunged into the socialist experiment started in the. Denver public schools in 1925 and 1926. In one way or another I have kept an eye on school matters throughout my own school and college life, during thirteen years of newspaper work, and ten years as seminarian and priest in the Episcopal Church. So, in the two parishes I have served, the week day education of children has been one of my major concerns, and I have helped to found two schools, South west Episcopal School in Houston and St. John's School in Abilene. There were three main reasons for founding these schools. First, there was the conviction that all instruc tion, or teaching, or education (whatever we call it) is basically religious and therefore of primary concern to the Christian Church. Second, there was a general agree ment that schools now controlled by tax-supported agenThe Reverend Mr. Ingram is Rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Bellaire, Texas.