“When we assumed the Soldier, we did not lay aside the Citizen.”
—From George Washington’s address to the New York Legislature (26 June 1775)
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“When the representative body have lost the confidence of their constituents, when they have notoriously made sale of their most valuable rights, when they have assumed to themselves powers which the people never put into their hands, then indeed their continuing in office becomes dangerous to the state, and calls for an exercise of the power of dissolution.”
—From Thomas Jefferson’s “A Summary View of the Rights of British America” (1774)
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“There never was a good war or a bad peace.”
—From Benjamin Franklin’s letter to Josiah Quincy (11 September 1783)
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“Fear is the foundation of most governments; but it is so sordid and brutal a passion, and renders men in whose breasts it predominates so stupid and miserable, that Americans will not be likely to approve of any political institution which is founded on it.”
—From John Adams’s “Thoughts on Government” (1776)
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“In time of actual war, great discretionary powers are constantly given to the Executive Magistrate. Constant apprehension of War, has the same tendency to render the head too large for the body. A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive will not long be safe companions to liberty. The means of defence against foreign danger have been always the instruments of tyranny at home.”
—From James Madison’s address to the Constitutional Convention (29 June 1787)
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“Compulsion in religion is distinguished peculiarly from compulsion in every other thing. I may grow rich by art I am compelled to follow, I may recover health by medicines I am compelled to take against my own judgment, but I cannot be saved by a worship I disbelieve & abhor.”
—From Thomas Jefferson’s “Notes on Religion” (October 1776)
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“The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.”
—From Patrick Henry’s speech regarding the Federal Constitution, Virginia Ratifying Convention (9 June 1788)
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“That people who pay greater respect to a wealthy villain than to an honest, upright man in poverty, almost deserve to be enslaved; they plainly show that wealth, however it may be acquired, is, in their esteem, to be preferred to virtue.”
—From John Hancock’s “Boston Massacre Oration” (1774)
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“In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace to the legislature, and not to the executive department. Beside the objection to such a mixture of heterogeneous powers: the trust and the temptation would be too great for any one man…”
—From Alexander Hamilton’s commentary in “The Pacificus-Helvidius Debates of 1793-1794″
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“Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man.”
—From Samuel Adams’s essay in “The Advertiser” (1748)
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“Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.”
—From George Washington’s letter to James Madison, 2 March 1788
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Also today…
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Deep appreciation to the photographers! Unless otherwise stated, some rights reserved under Creative Commons licensing.
Elizabeth Haslam, whose photos (except for library books) grace the rotating banner top of homepage. https://www.flickr.com/photos/lizhaslam/
Library books by Larry Rose, Redlands, California, all rights reserved, contact: larry@rosefoto.com
Durham, North Carolina No Kings Rally photos by Andrew Hidas https://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewhidas/?
Claire, Shelley (close friend) and I marched our ourselves over to The Woodlands, a deep red Houston suburb and joined in the demonstration against Trump. Other than the banter among like-minded individuals, reading the handmade signs and posters brought about high fives, smiles, and laughter. I can’t post Claire’s pics but several deserve mention: “IKEA made a better cabinet”, “Grab him by the Epstein Files’, “Free Balls for Members of Congress Who’ve Lost Theirs.” and “Eggs are expensive because all of the chickens are in Congress”.
Thanks so much for this, Andrew.
Choice selections, Robert! I entertained a few passing thoughts of what I’d put on a sign were I to give it a go, but my artistic ability is so, shall we say, “muted,” I let the thoughts drift away. Besides, it would complicate my snapping fotos, which I seem almost instinctually driven to do, in honor of their wit and commitment to the fine tradition of protest!
You’re welcome, Julie! I’m seeing numbers this morning citing 3,300 rallies in all 50 states, with some 8-10 million attendees. Near the end of the march to the park, there was a low point looking uphill both ahead of and behind me, and the crowd, crammed in cheek by jowl, stretched for blocks in both directions. Edifying!
“That people who pay greater respect to a wealthy villain than to an honest, upright man in poverty, almost deserve to be enslaved; they plainly show that wealth, however it may be acquired, is, in their esteem, to be preferred to virtue.”
—From John Hancock’s “Boston Massacre Oration” (1774)
This is one of the hardest parts, and also most predictable. The worship of wealth and the wealthy, by however means they become wealthy, is so hard to dilute. Even in like-minded people, the discussion of a fair tax, or taxing the wealthy more, seems to cause terror and retrenchment. The study of gratitude often loses to the fear of scarcity, and the big ego we get from our possessions.
All that and more, Jeanette! Dealing with ancient instincts and primal fears is no small or easily surmountable matter. Lots of encouraging, hard-won steps in that direction since we emerged from the cave, but the evidence is all around us that we still have a long ways to go. Thanks for stopping in here and commiserating!