In this exchange of letters, Mr. Geshell writes that he has been thinking about a comment that Wolff made in a Lions Club speech, which he paraphrases as follows: “That almost any means are justified and should be taken to reduce the power of the political ‘entity’ in the United States. ‘Money power’ no longer holds a restraining position with reference to ascendency of political power.”
In his response, Wolff makes two points:
Relative to the quotation taken from the talk before the Lion's Club, the following points are to be noted (1) The words are “‘almost’ any means” and thus do not exclude the possibility that there could be a worse power principle as compared to a predominant political power, though I doubt it. (2) I was referring to an instrument of power in the use of the word “means” rather than to method of establishing the power. I do not advocate the view that the “end justifies the means,” but rather the view promulgated by Emerson in the form “the end is resident in the means.” I realize from your quotation that there was an ambiguity.
Wolff then notes that “I have a sixty page discussion of politics within I think might make my view and its reasons clearer than anything I might say in less space.” Unfortunately, this document, which is also mentioned in Wolff’s essay, “The Vertical Thought Movement,” remains outstanding. Wolff goes on to make a few comments on politics in this letter, which he says “are no more than brief suggestions to suggest lines of thought an[d] observation.” (6 pages)
