Acton's famous observation that "power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely" is one of the very few conservative maxims that leftists, deep down, know to be true. In other words, it's a winning argument for us.
Elsewhere, Acton observed that the principles of free market economics could be deduced from the Gospels. My late friend William F. Rickenbacker also wrote powerfully in developing some of these New Testament arguments for free markets.
Acton's work and memory are carried on by the Acton Institute in Grand Rapids, MI. Their focus is precisely to show the relationship between sound religious belief and economic freedom with its attendant growth and prosperity. I strongly commend its work and recommend its support by Freepers who want to do something for the Christian and free market view.
I am familiar with the Acton Institute.
Indeed, my main complaint with them is their failure to point out Acton's position which is the subject here.
Otherwise, a fine org. with a fine website. I cannot recommend too highly Acton's two great discourses on Liberty. Here is a blurb about and a link to Acton's most famous and valuable work:
The History of Freedom by John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton. Lord Acton is popularly remembered for his pungent aphorisms – "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely" – but of far deeper significance was his lifelong study of the history of freedom. It was a work never completed, for reasons Professor Holland discusses in his introduction. But Acton's brilliant insights, the fruit of his vast erudition, were forthcoming on rare occasion, and never more powerfully than in the two lectures published here. These writings are a precious heritage for the promise of civilization in our time and forevermore.