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Message: 24th Principle--A free people will not survive unless they stay strong.
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24th
Principle
A free people will not survive
unless they stay strong.
Principle
A free people will not survive
unless they stay strong.
-
-
A free people in a civilized society always tend toward
prosperity. In the case of the United States, the trend has
been toward a super-abundant prosperity. Only as the
federal government has usurped authority and intermeddled
with the free-market economy has this surge of prosperity
and high production of goods and services been inhibited.
But prosperity in the midst of thriving industry, fruitful
farms, beautiful cities, and flourishing commerce always
attracts the greedy aspirations of predatory nations. Singly,
these covetous predators may not pose a threat, but
federated together they may present a spectre of total
desolation to a free, prosperous people. Before the nation's
inhabitants are aware, their apocalypse of destruction is
upon them.
-
It was the philosophy of the Founders that the kind
hand of Providence had been everywhere present in allowing
the United States to come forth as the first free people in
modern times. They further felt that they would forever be
blessed with freedom and prosperity if they remained a
virtuous and adequately armed nation.
prosperity. In the case of the United States, the trend has
been toward a super-abundant prosperity. Only as the
federal government has usurped authority and intermeddled
with the free-market economy has this surge of prosperity
and high production of goods and services been inhibited.
But prosperity in the midst of thriving industry, fruitful
farms, beautiful cities, and flourishing commerce always
attracts the greedy aspirations of predatory nations. Singly,
these covetous predators may not pose a threat, but
federated together they may present a spectre of total
desolation to a free, prosperous people. Before the nation's
inhabitants are aware, their apocalypse of destruction is
upon them.
-
It was the philosophy of the Founders that the kind
hand of Providence had been everywhere present in allowing
the United States to come forth as the first free people in
modern times. They further felt that they would forever be
blessed with freedom and prosperity if they remained a
virtuous and adequately armed nation.
-
Franklin's Philosophy of Defense
-
Clear back in 1747, Benjamin Franklin vividly
comprehended the task ahead. Said he:
"Were this Union formed, were we once united,
thoroughly armed and disciplined, were everything in
our power done for our security, as far as human means
and foresight could provide, we might then, with more
propriety, humbly ask the assistance of Heaven and a
blessing on our lawful endeavors." (Smyth, Writings of
Benjamin Franklin, 2:352.)
Clear back in 1747, Benjamin Franklin vividly
comprehended the task ahead. Said he:
"Were this Union formed, were we once united,
thoroughly armed and disciplined, were everything in
our power done for our security, as far as human means
and foresight could provide, we might then, with more
propriety, humbly ask the assistance of Heaven and a
blessing on our lawful endeavors." (Smyth, Writings of
Benjamin Franklin, 2:352.)
-
Peace was the goal, but strength was the means.
Franklin envisioned the day when a prudent policy of
national defense would provide the American people with the
protection which their rise to greatness would require. He
wrote:
"The very fame of our strength and readiness would
be a means of discouraging our enemies; for 'tis a wise
and true saying, that "One sword often keeps another in
the scabbard." The way to secure peace is to be prepared
for war. They that are on their guard, and appear ready
to receive their adversaries, are in much less danger of
being attacked than the supine, secure and negligent."
(Ibid.)
Peace was the goal, but strength was the means.
Franklin envisioned the day when a prudent policy of
national defense would provide the American people with the
protection which their rise to greatness would require. He
wrote:
"The very fame of our strength and readiness would
be a means of discouraging our enemies; for 'tis a wise
and true saying, that "One sword often keeps another in
the scabbard." The way to secure peace is to be prepared
for war. They that are on their guard, and appear ready
to receive their adversaries, are in much less danger of
being attacked than the supine, secure and negligent."
(Ibid.)
-
Franklin further saw that those in authority have the
inherent responsibility to initiate the means by which
adequate defenses can be provided. He declared:
"Protection is as truly due from the government to
the people, as obedience from the people [is due] to the
government." (Ibid., p. 347.)
Franklin further saw that those in authority have the
inherent responsibility to initiate the means by which
adequate defenses can be provided. He declared:
"Protection is as truly due from the government to
the people, as obedience from the people [is due] to the
government." (Ibid., p. 347.)
-
In later life he held to the same solid philosophy of peace
through strength as an assurance of survival in the future:
"Our security lies, I think, in our growing strength,
both in numbers and wealth; that creates an increasing
ability of assisting this nation in its wars, which will
make us more respectable, our friendship more valued,
and our enmity feared; thence it will soon be thought
proper to treat us not with justice only, but with
kindness, and thence we may expect in a few years a
total change of measures with regard to us; unless, by a
neglect of military discipline, we should lose all martial
spirit, and our western people become as tame as those
in the eastern dominions of Britain [India], when we may
expect the same oppressions; for there is much truth in
the Italian saying, "Make yourselves sheep, and the
wolves will eat you." (Ibid., 6:3-4.)
In later life he held to the same solid philosophy of peace
through strength as an assurance of survival in the future:
"Our security lies, I think, in our growing strength,
both in numbers and wealth; that creates an increasing
ability of assisting this nation in its wars, which will
make us more respectable, our friendship more valued,
and our enmity feared; thence it will soon be thought
proper to treat us not with justice only, but with
kindness, and thence we may expect in a few years a
total change of measures with regard to us; unless, by a
neglect of military discipline, we should lose all martial
spirit, and our western people become as tame as those
in the eastern dominions of Britain [India], when we may
expect the same oppressions; for there is much truth in
the Italian saying, "Make yourselves sheep, and the
wolves will eat you." (Ibid., 6:3-4.)
-
The Thoughts of George Washington
-
George Washington is often described as "First in peace,
first in war, first in the hearts of his countrymen."
No American occupied a more substantive position,
either then or now, to proclaim what he considered to be a
necessary posture for the preservation of the nation. He had
literally risked "his life, his fortune, and his sacred honor" for
the cause of freedom and performed that task under
circumstances which would have smothered the endurance
of men with lesser stamina and courage. He fought the
Revolutionary War with no navy of any consequence, no
trained professional army of either size or stability, and no
outpouring of genuine support from the very states he was
striving to save. He could have retired in bitterness after
Valley Forge and Morristown, but that was not his character.
He did not relish the anguish of it all, but he endured it. To
George Washington, it was all part of "structuring a new
nation."
George Washington is often described as "First in peace,
first in war, first in the hearts of his countrymen."
No American occupied a more substantive position,
either then or now, to proclaim what he considered to be a
necessary posture for the preservation of the nation. He had
literally risked "his life, his fortune, and his sacred honor" for
the cause of freedom and performed that task under
circumstances which would have smothered the endurance
of men with lesser stamina and courage. He fought the
Revolutionary War with no navy of any consequence, no
trained professional army of either size or stability, and no
outpouring of genuine support from the very states he was
striving to save. He could have retired in bitterness after
Valley Forge and Morristown, but that was not his character.
He did not relish the anguish of it all, but he endured it. To
George Washington, it was all part of "structuring a new
nation."
-
Washington's position on national defense was in terms
of grim realities experienced on the field of battle. No man
wanted peace more than he. And no man was willing to risk
more in life and property to achieve it. In nearly the same
words as Franklin he declared:
Washington's position on national defense was in terms
of grim realities experienced on the field of battle. No man
wanted peace more than he. And no man was willing to risk
more in life and property to achieve it. In nearly the same
words as Franklin he declared:
-
"To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual
means of preserving peace." (Fitzpatrick, Writings of
George Washington, 30:491.)
Washington also saw the fallacy of waiting until an
attack had occurred before marshalling available resources.
He wrote:
"To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual
means of preserving peace." (Fitzpatrick, Writings of
George Washington, 30:491.)
Washington also saw the fallacy of waiting until an
attack had occurred before marshalling available resources.
He wrote:
-
"A free people ought not only to be armed, but
disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested
plan is requisite." (Ibid.)
"A free people ought not only to be armed, but
disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested
plan is requisite." (Ibid.)
-
Washington also saw the fallacy of a policy of
interdependence with other nations which made the United
States vulnerable in time of war. In his first annual address
to Congress, he spoke of the people's general welfare, then
stated:
Washington also saw the fallacy of a policy of
interdependence with other nations which made the United
States vulnerable in time of war. In his first annual address
to Congress, he spoke of the people's general welfare, then
stated:
-
"And their safety and interest require that they
should promote such manufactories as tend to render
them independent of others for essentials, particularly
military supplies." (Ibid.)
"And their safety and interest require that they
should promote such manufactories as tend to render
them independent of others for essentials, particularly
military supplies." (Ibid.)
-
Washington felt that neither politics nor world
circumstances should lure the American people into a
posture of complacency. He felt that vigilance was indeed the
price of freedom, and unless it was promoted with firmness
and consistency the future of the United States would be in
jeopardy. In another speech he said:
Washington felt that neither politics nor world
circumstances should lure the American people into a
posture of complacency. He felt that vigilance was indeed the
price of freedom, and unless it was promoted with firmness
and consistency the future of the United States would be in
jeopardy. In another speech he said:
-
"The safety of the United States, under Divine
protection, ought to rest on the basis of systematic and
solid arrangements, exposed as little as possible to the
hazards of fortuitous circumstances." (Ibid., 31:403.)
"The safety of the United States, under Divine
protection, ought to rest on the basis of systematic and
solid arrangements, exposed as little as possible to the
hazards of fortuitous circumstances." (Ibid., 31:403.)
-
Washington's Fifth Annual
Address to Congress
Address to Congress
-
As President, Washington perceived the tendency of
Congress to avoid its responsibility to provide adequate
defenses. Because the President was personally responsible
for the nation's foreign relations, he was well aware that the
new born United States had a long way to go to insure decent
respect and deference from the arrogant European powers. In
his fifth annual address to Congress, he said:
"I cannot recommend to your notice measures for
the fulfillment of our duties to the rest of the world,
without again pressing upon you the necessity of placing
ourselves in a condition of complete defense, and of
exacting from them the fulfillment of their duties toward
us." (Ibid., 33:165.)
As President, Washington perceived the tendency of
Congress to avoid its responsibility to provide adequate
defenses. Because the President was personally responsible
for the nation's foreign relations, he was well aware that the
new born United States had a long way to go to insure decent
respect and deference from the arrogant European powers. In
his fifth annual address to Congress, he said:
"I cannot recommend to your notice measures for
the fulfillment of our duties to the rest of the world,
without again pressing upon you the necessity of placing
ourselves in a condition of complete defense, and of
exacting from them the fulfillment of their duties toward
us." (Ibid., 33:165.)
-
Washington could already see the predatory monarchs
of Europe planning to slice up the United States and divide it
among them unless the people alerted themselves to the
exigencies of the day. The British still had their troops
stationed along the northern border of U.S. territory. The
Spanish had definite aspirations to make a thrust into the
Mississippi heartland. From Washington's point of view, all
was not well in America's happy valley. Therefore he told the
Congress:
Washington could already see the predatory monarchs
of Europe planning to slice up the United States and divide it
among them unless the people alerted themselves to the
exigencies of the day. The British still had their troops
stationed along the northern border of U.S. territory. The
Spanish had definite aspirations to make a thrust into the
Mississippi heartland. From Washington's point of view, all
was not well in America's happy valley. Therefore he told the
Congress:
-
"There is a rank due to the United States among
nations, which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by
the reputation of weakness. If we desire to avoid insult,
we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace,
one of the most powerful instruments of our rising
prosperity, it must be known that we are at all times
ready for war." (Ibid.)
"There is a rank due to the United States among
nations, which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by
the reputation of weakness. If we desire to avoid insult,
we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace,
one of the most powerful instruments of our rising
prosperity, it must be known that we are at all times
ready for war." (Ibid.)
-
A Duty to the Creator to Preserve
Freedom and Unalienable Rights
Freedom and Unalienable Rights
-
Samuel Adams emphasized the moral responsibility of
Americans to preserve the heritage of freedom and
unalienable rights with which the Creator had endowed
them. Once these blessings have been vouchsafed to a
human being, Sam Adams felt it was a wicked and unnatural
thing to allow those great fruits of liberty to languish by
neglect or apathy. When individuals combine into a society,
they bring all of their natural rights with them. Under no
circumstances must these be allowed to dwindle away. Said
he:
Americans to preserve the heritage of freedom and
unalienable rights with which the Creator had endowed
them. Once these blessings have been vouchsafed to a
human being, Sam Adams felt it was a wicked and unnatural
thing to allow those great fruits of liberty to languish by
neglect or apathy. When individuals combine into a society,
they bring all of their natural rights with them. Under no
circumstances must these be allowed to dwindle away. Said
he:
-
"It is the greatest absurdity to suppose it [would be]
in the power of one, or any number of men, at the
entering into society, to renounce their essential natural
rights, or the means of preserving those rights; when the
grand end of civil government, from the very nature of
its institution, is for the support, protection, and defense
of those very rights; the principal of which ... are life,
liberty, and property. If men, through fear, fraud, or
mistake, should in terms renounce or give up any
essential natural right, the eternal law of reason and the
grand end of society would absolutely vacate such
renunciation. The right to freedom being the gift of God
Almighty, it is not in the power of man to alienate this
gift and voluntarily become a slave." (Quoted in Wells,
Life of Samuel Adams, 1:504.)
"It is the greatest absurdity to suppose it [would be]
in the power of one, or any number of men, at the
entering into society, to renounce their essential natural
rights, or the means of preserving those rights; when the
grand end of civil government, from the very nature of
its institution, is for the support, protection, and defense
of those very rights; the principal of which ... are life,
liberty, and property. If men, through fear, fraud, or
mistake, should in terms renounce or give up any
essential natural right, the eternal law of reason and the
grand end of society would absolutely vacate such
renunciation. The right to freedom being the gift of God
Almighty, it is not in the power of man to alienate this
gift and voluntarily become a slave." (Quoted in Wells,
Life of Samuel Adams, 1:504.)
-
The American Inheritance
-
Thus the Founders passed on to their posterity a policy
of peace through strength. They were peace-loving, but not
pacifists. They called for a rugged kind of strength bolted to a
broad base. They saw the foundation for their security in a
bustling, prosperous economy with a high standard of public
morality; and they saw the necessity for a level of
preparedness which discouraged attack from potential
enemies by creating a rate of risk so high that the waging of
war against this nation would be an obviously unprofitable
undertaking.
Thus the Founders passed on to their posterity a policy
of peace through strength. They were peace-loving, but not
pacifists. They called for a rugged kind of strength bolted to a
broad base. They saw the foundation for their security in a
bustling, prosperous economy with a high standard of public
morality; and they saw the necessity for a level of
preparedness which discouraged attack from potential
enemies by creating a rate of risk so high that the waging of
war against this nation would be an obviously unprofitable
undertaking.
-
As Samuel Adams wrote to a sympathetic friend in
England:
As Samuel Adams wrote to a sympathetic friend in
England:
-
"It is the business of America to take care of herself;
her situation, as you justly observe, depends upon her
own virtue." (Ibid., p. 376.)
"It is the business of America to take care of herself;
her situation, as you justly observe, depends upon her
own virtue." (Ibid., p. 376.)
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