Frank Meyer: The Fusionist as Federalist

Frank S. Meyer played a central role in defining the post-warAmerican conservative movement by defining and defending anideological "fusion" of traditional conservative principlesand libertarian political beliefs. While concerned with maintenanceof an objective moral order and the pursuit of virtue in theindividual, Meyer argued that the freedom of the person is thecentral and primary end of political society. The American systemof government, with its horizontal and vertical separationsof power, came closer than any political system in history toproviding the protection for individual liberties necessaryfor the effective pursuit of virtue. Federalism was particularlyimportant as it could forestall the centralization of governmentpower. Virtue, to have any meaning, had to be chosen freely,but providing for individual freedom provided no guarantee thatindividuals would pursue virtuous ends. By the same token, federalismand the separation of powers did not guarantee that state governmentswould adopt wise or moral policies, as the history of the civilrights struggle attests. Nonetheless, Meyer believed federalismwas essential if individual freedom was to endure.