“When the world is storm-driven and the bad that happens and the worse that threatens are so urgent as to shut out everything else from view, then we need to know all the strong fortresses of the spirit which men have built through the ages.” ― David McCullough
It is that spirit that we celebrate tomorrow. " When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. " In short, it was time to speak up! And speak up we did. A revolution followed. A revolution that lasted eight long years. It was the longest war Americans fought until the Vietnam war. And let's not forget that wasn't a declared war. We had made no declaration before Vietnam!
Today we are facing a struggle once again, a struggle between political bands. In reality it is the same struggle the founding fathers fought when creating this nation. The struggle between the Federalists and Loyalists. The difference is today the Conservatives are like Loyalists and the liberals, Federalists. A role reversal. A good read of the federalist papers would provide insight into this, especially Federalist Ten where Monroe writes about factions. Factions was a huge concern of his and indeed the others including Hamilton and Jay. Monroe explains the only possible solution to factions is the establishment of a Republic! Yes, he is specific in that, describing what a Republic is and what a Democracy is.
The struggle between our political bands were best described by Abraham Lincoln, although that thought wasn't his own. “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” It is also expressed in Mark 3:25: “And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” That is what we are faced with every day. We have been since the inception of the nation. Human rights have always occupied the forefront of our Republic. The first ten amendments to the constitution, the Bill of Rights, is evidence of that. The goal is common ground.
Factions are a major concern of the founders. They are well aware that it is faction that will lead to the destruction of the country. Madison, again writing in Federalist Ten writes these words. He is talking about controlling factions. That is to say, lessening their impact.
"By what means is this object attainable? Evidently by one of two only. Either the existence of the same passion or interest in a majority at the same time must be prevented, or the majority, having such coexistent passion or interest, must be rendered, by their number and local situation, unable to concert and carry into effect schemes of oppression. If the impulse and the opportunity be suffered to coincide, we well know that neither moral nor religious motives can be relied on as an adequate control. They are not found to be such on the injustice and violence of individuals, and lose their efficacy in proportion to the number combined together, that is, in proportion as their efficacy becomes needful."
In the past the most glaring division, faction if you will, were those supporting slavery and those that opposed. It was an issue from the very beginning. No mention of that was made in the Constitution or Bill of Rights. That was left to the individual states to legislate.
The belief was that "institution" would run its' natural course and be eliminated over time. In 1775 the very first meeting of an Abolitionist society met in Philadelphia. They were Quakers and had abolished the practice among themselves in 1770. We are all aware of what eventually transpired. The cause for the "War between the States" as it was called at the time, later being called the Civil War for political reasons, is still being debated. For me the answer is simple enough, commerce and money. Nothing inflames more passion than money! Monroe did say, "we all know that neither moral nor religious motives can be relied on as adequate control." The reaction to the Supreme Court decision regarding Roe is proof positive of the validity of that statement! And once again that decision is thrown to the individual states to decide. Once again, the belief is that the practice will be abolished, recognized for what it truly is. Once again, we are faced with factions inflamed by passions.
"The influence of factious leaders may kindle a flame within their particular States, but will be unable to spread a general conflagration through the other States. A religious sect may degenerate into a political faction in a part of the Confederacy; but the variety of sects dispersed over the entire face of it must secure the national councils against any danger from that source. A rage for paper money, for an abolition of debts, for an equal division of property, or for any other improper or wicked project, will be less apt to pervade the whole body of the Union than a particular member of it; in the same proportion as such a malady is more likely to taint a particular county or district, than an entire State." Federalist Ten.
Does any of that last paragraph sound familiar? Prophetic or simple common sense? History stretches back thousands of years. Hamilton, Monroe and Jay all knew their history. It isn't a prophecy on their part just a reasoning based on historical facts. A previous great Republic had fallen. The cause? It had been divided into factions. Unable to enforce its' rule, the Republic fell. Our own Republic teetered on the edge from 1861 to 1865. One faction had prevailed and preserved the union. As we celebrate our Independence, our freedom, let us not lose sight of the goal. One nation, with liberty and justice for all. President Eisenhower insisted that "under God" be added to the pledge of allegiance. I agree with that sentiment but recognize it has no place in any official government policy statement. " Neither moral nor religious motives can be relied upon" And that best describes the condition of humanity, although individuals may be relied upon. What faction do you side with? I'm on the side of a Republic. Tomorrow, I celebrate that, a hard-fought victory spanning eight years. A declaration made and a declaration defended. God Bless America.
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