NATURAL FREEDOM 



born free and equal means just this and 

 nothing more. The constitution of our 

 Republic guarantees to every man the op- 

 portunity to develop these natural powers 

 without undue interference by the state. 

 And the spirit of this constitution is vio- 

 lated by social injustice and by the neglect 

 to provide the means of free individual 

 and social advancement just as truly as by 

 illegal seizure of goods or restraint of the 

 person. Political freedom develops within 

 a system of political laws just as natural 

 freedom everywhere operates within the 

 realm of natural laws. 



This natural, or common-sense freedom 

 is generally admitted. But what of its 

 value? Is it a mere play upon words, a 

 derisive mockery, to yoke together this 

 pitiful fragment of freedom with the crea- 

 tive freedom of will so generally regarded 

 as man's noblest attribute? 



In considering natural freedom one is 

 perhaps first impressed by the poverty and 

 Impotence of so meager a dole. Is so 

 contracted and exiguous a freedom worthy 

 of the toil and anguish which mankind has 

 expended upon Its quest? Can nothing 

 better be said of so mean a mistress than 

 to characterize our Audrey as 



[55] 



