FFQF: Alexander Hamilton on the Fall of Republics
Today we will look at what Alexander Hamilton had to say about the self-destructive weaknesses of republics. In a day and age where both extremes of unitary government and total democracy are pitted against each other in our nation, his words need to be heard and understood.
Every republic at all times has its Catalines and its Caesars. Men of this stamp, while in their hearts they scoff at the principles of liberty, while in their real characters they are arbitrary, persecuting, and intolerant, and despotic, are in all their harangues and professions the most zealous, nay, if they are to be believed, the only friends to liberty.
“The Vindication No. I” May-August 1792
In courts, sycophants flatter the errors and prejudices of the prince; in republics sycophants flatter the errors and prejudices of the people. In both, honest and independent men are frequently obliged to tell unpalatable truths, which are well or ill received according to the virtue and good sense of those to whom they are addressed.
“Philo Camillus No. 3″ August 12, 1795
People may shake their heads in astonishment, as these foretold patterns have been manifestly evident in our own political and social history. Others may marvel at how well our Founders described “the future” so precisely. The truth is that they gained their insight and their understanding through studying the history of republics, or those governments which had the seed of some form of “popular government.”
In other words, what is happening — or, what has been happening — to America is nothing new in the annuls of great human civilizations. Nay, we are merely another link in the long chain of examples of nations refusing to learn the lesson from history — that man is an inherently corrupted being, with knowledge of right and wrong, but a perpetual inclination for wrong.
No matter what extreme you slide toward, man’s age-old dream of a perfect “Utopia” will never come true without a fundamental change in mankind itself. That change can only be wrought about by God Himself, through the power of the new covenant.
But since mankind doesn’t want to acknowledge God’s right to do that, he has chosen to ignore God, and seek answers in himself. Hence, the problem remains, and the terrible cycle is repeated once more. Thank God there is a day when all of that will come to an end. God will not put up with the iniquity of man forever; He will come and establish His own government to rule in justice.
Today I am thrilled to announce that we have a new participant in Founding Father’s Quote Friday. MikeB from Florida, author of two great history blogs (Great Lives in History and Citrus Country Social Studies) has written his first FFQF post. Go here to check it out!
5 Responses to “FFQF: Alexander Hamilton on the Fall of Republics”
March 13th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Your posts always leave me much informed. Excellent, excellent article!
And I am twice-blessed, because I completed my FFQF post in a timely manner!
Glad to hear of Mike B. I am looking forward to reading it.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:19 am
What incredibly sound words from Mr. Hamilton – and from Mr. Mulligan. Thank you for sharing both.
I’m sorry I didn’t get to FFQF today. I’m fizzled now, but I’m hoping to finish it first thing in the morning. Forgive me, my friend.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:32 am
Hey Herc! I’m loving the post this week, but maybe the fact that I’m an Alex H. fan ties into it. He was such a political genius! *sigh* We need him back today, so he can help us clean up the mess our government has become. He would definitely help us…after saying “I told you so,” that is.
The point you made about how mankind can never create its own utopia is dead on. Many people today think they are more powerful than God and can create a perfect world without Him; so not true! Hopefully, one day things will change.
I know this is random, but today’s post reminded me of this fact: I hate when people twist the Founders’ words to make it sound like they weren’t religious! Especially that quote by John Adams that’s always misintepreted. I think it was “this would be the best of worlds if there were no religion in it,” or something like that. All I know is that he wrote it in a letter and he did not mean that religion should be annihilated at all!
LOL, sorry I kind of rambled. I have a tendency to despise revisionist history. Someone else posted a FFQF? I’ll have to check that out. Great job on the post once again!
March 14th, 2009 at 2:39 am
Thanks to you all for reading and leaving your thoughtful comments.
Cato — I’m glad that you liked the post, and that you were able to post yours on sched. today.
Jean — Your welcome.
I understand the fizzled part, don’t feel bad about late postings. I’ll be looking forward to it, though!
Historylover2 — Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a thoughtful comment. I don’t mind rants, btw.
I tend to agree that “Hammy’s” presence would do some good in our day, but I’m not sure that he could actually turn our country around. He seemed to have a difficult enough time keeping it one track while he was alive. To reiterate the point I made in my post, this is not a problem man can fix. Man must COOPERATE with the solution, yes, but the solution can’t be found in man.
I WOULD like to see him give a humiliating scathe to the feds though …
But I guess Christ with His rod of iron would really give them a much-needed pasting.
I don’t mind reasonable ramblings. In fact, I appreciate it when my readers’ thinking is stimulated by my writing, and when they take the time to share it with me. So, feel free to ramble all you like. And I sympathize; revisionism gets me going too.
Happy FFQF!
March 14th, 2009 at 10:30 am
Refreshed and rejuvenated by a good night’s sleep, I’ve gotten my FFQF posted:
http://akagaga.blogspot.com/2009/03/ffqf-american-battleground-justice-part.html
Have a blessed weekend, my friend.
Leave a Comment