Free Republic

The Lord ActonGeneral Robert E. Lee Correspondence Bologna November 4, 1866 Sir, The very kind letter which Mrs. Lee wrote to my wife last winter encouraged me to hope that you will forgive my presuming to address you, and that you will not resent as an intrusion a letter from an earnest and passionate lover of the cause whose glory and whose strength you were. I have been requested to furnish private counsel in American affairs for the guidance of the editors of a weekly Review which is to begin at the New Year, and which will be conducted by...

“Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Among Catholic students of political thought, few figures are more liable to provoke vigorous debate than does this famous dictum’s author, Cambridge history lecturer J.E.E. Dalberg-Acton, 1st Lord Acton, Catholic godfather of classical liberalism.. ..his interaction with a local Catholic revival prompted him to investigate more deeply the historical basis for Anglo-Saxon political tradition. In his view, this tradition had flowered most fully and wonderfully through the independence of the former British colonies of North America.. if we take for granted that Acton would be infatuated with twenty-first century Americanism we might...

Father Sirico of the Acton Institute spoke on Saturday and I found what he said interesting, for as much what he didn’t say as for what he did. As a Catholic Father one would expect him to be rather preachy but he wasn’t unless pressed on the matter of faith. His main focus was consistently on the importance of Liberty. What I found particularly interesting was when he recounted his personal history and how at one time in his youth he was an atheist, socialist activist. He said that if there was a demonstration somewhere if he wasn’t leading it...

Bologna November 4, 1866 Sir, The very kind letter which Mrs. Lee wrote to my wife last winter encouraged me to hope that you will forgive my presuming to address you, and that you will not resent as an intrusion a letter from an earnest and passionate lover of the cause whose glory and whose strength you were. I have been requested to furnish private counsel in American affairs for the guidance of the editors of a weekly Review which is to begin at the New Year, and which will be conducted by men who are followers of Mr. Gladstone....