Spencer Heath Archive

Item 1504

Letter to Henry Regnery, 20 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, 4, Illinois

December 12, 1953

Dear Mr. Regnery:

     Congratulations on the merit, also the success of Russell Kirk’s The Conservative Mind. This is a book to crown the whole epoch of political thinking from Aristotle till now. It brings all into focus. Yet the large image is blurred, for it highlights the vain prepossession that coercive government is necessary to social advance and can be reasonably restrained.

     That political government is tax-parasitic on society is seldom denied. But even conservative thinking assumes that the legislative process and coercive, instead of contractual, administration are essential to a stable social order. And it hopes that this coercive power can be effectively limited — paper-bound in the intricacies of political constitutions, written or anciently pres­cribed — even though their observance lies almost wholly with the governments that they affect to legitimize and set in power.

     It is high time in History that the non-violent alternative in public, as well as in private administration, were found. This alternative non-political type of pub­lic administration is elaborated, both in principle his­torically and in practical detail, in the manuscript (and accompanying diagrams) entitled Citadel, Market and Altar.

     I now seek contact with a publisher alert for signs — obscure and small beginnings — of wide and mighty things to come. From the words of my friend John Chamberlain and from the high and timely character of your publications, especially such as The Conservative Mind, I feel that your first-hand examination of this unique work (by a research engineer who has had success in other lines) may well lead to results creditable to all parties concerned — and important for the advancement of mankind.

Sincerely,

SH:sm

John Chamberlain was of opinion I should discuss this matter personally with you. He made several efforts during the past year to bring us together here in New York but did not succeed in doing so.