The Roots of Libertarian Conservatism

The classical liberal was philosopher. And we, Mr. Spencer’s libertarian case a good economist but a poor Meyer contends, must salvage against statism

“The American conservative,” Ralph de Toledano maintained some little while ago in national review, “is limited by a pantheon and a demonology.” And, he went on to argue, before a clear principled outlook for contemporary American conservatism can be crystallized, “there must be a long … period of examination, ferment, and distillation.” Exaggerated though Mr. de Toledano’s strictures may be, there is something to them; as a contribution to the “examination” for which he calls, I should like to discuss some aspects of the limitation of vision he notes.

FS

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Frank S. Meyer

Frank S. Meyer was a senior editor of National Review.

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Alexis de Tocqueville

Western Civilization

The classical liberal was philosopher. And we, Mr. Spencer’s libertarian case a good economist but a poor Meyer contends, must salvage against statism

“The American conservative,” Ralph de Toledano maintained some little while ago in national review, “is limited by a pantheon and a demonology.” And, he went on to argue, before a clear principled outlook for contemporary American conservatism can be crystallized, “there must be a long … period of examination, ferment, and distillation.” Exaggerated though Mr. de Toledano’s strictures may be, there is something to them; as a contribution to the “examination” for which he calls, I should like to discuss some aspects of the limitation of vision he notes.