A republic is a commonwealth; a state in which the exercise of the sovereign power is lodged in representatives elected by the people. It differs from a democracy in which the people exercise the powers of sovereignty in person through a vote. With a Constitutional Republic, we are ruled by a ballot vote and representation, ensuring the voices of the majority and minority are heard and respected, while Democracy rules without regard for the voices of the minority.
At the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin made an observation about the chair General George Washington had been sitting in as he presided over the Convention. The chair had an emblem of half of a sun. “I have often and often, in the course of the session, and the vicissitudes of my hopes and fears as to its issue, looked at that behind the President, without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting: but now at length, I have the happiness to know, that it is a rising and not a setting sun.”. He was then asked what kind of government we, the new American people, now had. Franklin replied, “a republic, if you can keep it.”
The actions of our Founding Fathers to stand against tyranny and to create a Constitutional Republic are grounded in protecting the inalienable rights, and inherent value, of the Individual. Not to promote one’s happiness over another’s, not to promote one’s rights over another’s, but to recognize and honor the Creator of us all. The unifying principle that we are all equal under God and that His laws apply to all equally has been eroding for decades; divinely-inspired laws are written to protect the lives, liberty, & pursuits of each individual.
A reflection on the Founding Fathers and the principles underlying the American Republic raises essential questions about individual rights, the role of government, and the true meaning of freedom. It emphasizes the tenet that a government’s primary purpose is to protect the inherent rights of individuals, as granted by God.
This is the purpose of a Constitutional Republic – to ensure that no power is maintained through force, coercion, or fear and that protecting and promoting the individual is what will secure the blessings of liberty for all. As beneficiaries of the immense sacrifices made to maintain this Republic, it is our duty to honor and uphold those principles and priorities established by God and proclaimed within our founding documents.
The knowledge that power can manipulate rights, rather than preserve them, requires vigilance and active participation in the civic process. Upholding the principles established by the Founders requires a commitment to the rights of all individuals. It challenges each of us to consider what must be done to ensure that our government remains accountable to its citizens. Ultimately, honoring the sacrifices made for this Republic involves not only recognizing our shared values but also actively defending them against erosion. Each generation faces the challenge of applying these foundational principles to ensure that our Constitutional Republic endures.
Co-authored with HMM Fry
