Warnings From The Founding Generation

[JBvM]

Alexander Hamilton warned us about the convulsions and disorders that could weaken or destroy a republic like ours, as a consequences of the acts of popular demagogues and petty despots.

The truth unquestionably is, that the only path to a subversion of the republican system of the Country is, by flattering the prejudices of the people, and exciting their jealousies and apprehensions, to throw affairs into confusion, and bring on civil commotion. Tired at length of anarchy, or want of government, they may take shelter in the arms of monarchy for repose and security.

When a man unprincipled in private life desperate in his fortune, bold in his temper, possessed of considerable talents, having the advantage of military habits - despotic in his ordinary demeanour - known to have scoffed in private at the principles of liberty - when such a man is seen to mount the hobby horse of popularity - to join in the cry of danger to liberty - to take every opportunity of embarrassing the General Government & bringing it under suspicion - to flatter and fall in with all the non sense of the zealots of the day - It may justly be suspected that his object is to throw things into confusion that he may “ride the storm and direct the whirlwind.”

It has aptly been observed that Cato was the Tory-Cæsar the whig of his day. The former frequently resisted - the latter always flattered the follies of the people. Yet the former perished with the Republic the latter destroyed it.

No popular Government was ever without its Catalines & its Cæsars. These are its true enemies.
​

Then there was Wise Old Doctor Franklin warning that

in Europe, the Spaniards, Italians, French, Russians and Swedes, are generally of what we call a swarthy Complexion; as are the Germans also, the Saxons only excepted ... Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a Colony of Aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them, and will never adopt our Language or Customs, any more than they can acquire our Complexion.​

 

[flacaltenn]

Alexander Hamilton warned us about the convulsions and disorders that could weaken or destroy a republic like ours, as a consequences of the acts of popular demagogues and petty despots.

The truth unquestionably is, that the only path to a subversion of the republican system of the Country is, by flattering the prejudices of the people, and exciting their jealousies and apprehensions, to throw affairs into confusion, and bring on civil commotion. Tired at length of anarchy, or want of government, they may take shelter in the arms of monarchy for repose and security.

When a man unprincipled in private life desperate in his fortune, bold in his temper, possessed of considerable talents, having the advantage of military habits - despotic in his ordinary demeanour - known to have scoffed in private at the principles of liberty - when such a man is seen to mount the hobby horse of popularity - to join in the cry of danger to liberty - to take every opportunity of embarrassing the General Government & bringing it under suspicion - to flatter and fall in with all the non sense of the zealots of the day - It may justly be suspected that his object is to throw things into confusion that he may “ride the storm and direct the whirlwind.”

It has aptly been observed that Cato was the Tory-Cæsar the whig of his day. The former frequently resisted - the latter always flattered the follies of the people. Yet the former perished with the Republic the latter destroyed it.

No popular Government was ever without its Catalines & its Cæsars. These are its true enemies.
​

Then there was Wise Old Doctor Franklin warning that

in Europe, the Spaniards, Italians, French, Russians and Swedes, are generally of what we call a swarthy Complexion; as are the Germans also, the Saxons only excepted ... Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a Colony of Aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them, and will never adopt our Language or Customs, any more than they can acquire our Complexion.​

Bunch of radicals arguing like Repubs and Dems today.. Or dissing "populists".. Probably BEFORE the word populist was ever invented.

I have a collection of Founder "instructions" about political parties. They really worried about a 2 party system locked in a death match. It's the REAL tyranny the founders warned about. And it's come to pass.

Welcome to USMB btw. Seems like you're a "keeper".. Unless you go full zealot on us shortly..

 

[JBvM]

Alexander Hamilton warned us about the convulsions and disorders that could weaken or destroy a republic like ours, as a consequences of the acts of popular demagogues and petty despots.

The truth unquestionably is, that the only path to a subversion of the republican system of the Country is, by flattering the prejudices of the people, and exciting their jealousies and apprehensions, to throw affairs into confusion, and bring on civil commotion. Tired at length of anarchy, or want of government, they may take shelter in the arms of monarchy for repose and security.

When a man unprincipled in private life desperate in his fortune, bold in his temper, possessed of considerable talents, having the advantage of military habits - despotic in his ordinary demeanour - known to have scoffed in private at the principles of liberty - when such a man is seen to mount the hobby horse of popularity - to join in the cry of danger to liberty - to take every opportunity of embarrassing the General Government & bringing it under suspicion - to flatter and fall in with all the non sense of the zealots of the day - It may justly be suspected that his object is to throw things into confusion that he may “ride the storm and direct the whirlwind.”

It has aptly been observed that Cato was the Tory-Cæsar the whig of his day. The former frequently resisted - the latter always flattered the follies of the people. Yet the former perished with the Republic the latter destroyed it.

No popular Government was ever without its Catalines & its Cæsars. These are its true enemies.
​

Then there was Wise Old Doctor Franklin warning that

in Europe, the Spaniards, Italians, French, Russians and Swedes, are generally of what we call a swarthy Complexion; as are the Germans also, the Saxons only excepted ... Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a Colony of Aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them, and will never adopt our Language or Customs, any more than they can acquire our Complexion.​

Bunch of radicals arguing like Repubs and Dems today.. Or dissing "populists".. Probably BEFORE the word populist was ever invented.

I have a collection of Founder "instructions" about political parties. They really worried about a 2 party system locked in a death match. It's the REAL tyranny the founders warned about. And it's come to pass.

Welcome to USMB btw. Seems like you're a "keeper".. Unless you go full zealot on us shortly..

Theories vs practicalities. Sort of like the Two Top system in California. Facts are the ones who wrote about fears of a two party system, started that system, out of political necessity

 

[JBvM]

and thank you, I guess

 

[flacaltenn]

Alexander Hamilton warned us about the convulsions and disorders that could weaken or destroy a republic like ours, as a consequences of the acts of popular demagogues and petty despots.

The truth unquestionably is, that the only path to a subversion of the republican system of the Country is, by flattering the prejudices of the people, and exciting their jealousies and apprehensions, to throw affairs into confusion, and bring on civil commotion. Tired at length of anarchy, or want of government, they may take shelter in the arms of monarchy for repose and security.

When a man unprincipled in private life desperate in his fortune, bold in his temper, possessed of considerable talents, having the advantage of military habits - despotic in his ordinary demeanour - known to have scoffed in private at the principles of liberty - when such a man is seen to mount the hobby horse of popularity - to join in the cry of danger to liberty - to take every opportunity of embarrassing the General Government & bringing it under suspicion - to flatter and fall in with all the non sense of the zealots of the day - It may justly be suspected that his object is to throw things into confusion that he may “ride the storm and direct the whirlwind.”

It has aptly been observed that Cato was the Tory-Cæsar the whig of his day. The former frequently resisted - the latter always flattered the follies of the people. Yet the former perished with the Republic the latter destroyed it.

No popular Government was ever without its Catalines & its Cæsars. These are its true enemies.
​

Then there was Wise Old Doctor Franklin warning that

in Europe, the Spaniards, Italians, French, Russians and Swedes, are generally of what we call a swarthy Complexion; as are the Germans also, the Saxons only excepted ... Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a Colony of Aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them, and will never adopt our Language or Customs, any more than they can acquire our Complexion.​

Bunch of radicals arguing like Repubs and Dems today.. Or dissing "populists".. Probably BEFORE the word populist was ever invented.

I have a collection of Founder "instructions" about political parties. They really worried about a 2 party system locked in a death match. It's the REAL tyranny the founders warned about. And it's come to pass.

Welcome to USMB btw. Seems like you're a "keeper".. Unless you go full zealot on us shortly..

Theories vs practicalities. Sort of like the Two Top system in California. Facts are the ones who wrote about fears of a two party system, started that system, out of political necessity

Don't get me started on Top Two exclusionary disenfranching political highjinks. I actually fought that crap with the Libertarians out there for years. Took them forever to fool the voters. Let's stick with the inspirational psalms from the founders.

 

[JBvM]

Alexander Hamilton warned us about the convulsions and disorders that could weaken or destroy a republic like ours, as a consequences of the acts of popular demagogues and petty despots.

The truth unquestionably is, that the only path to a subversion of the republican system of the Country is, by flattering the prejudices of the people, and exciting their jealousies and apprehensions, to throw affairs into confusion, and bring on civil commotion. Tired at length of anarchy, or want of government, they may take shelter in the arms of monarchy for repose and security.

When a man unprincipled in private life desperate in his fortune, bold in his temper, possessed of considerable talents, having the advantage of military habits - despotic in his ordinary demeanour - known to have scoffed in private at the principles of liberty - when such a man is seen to mount the hobby horse of popularity - to join in the cry of danger to liberty - to take every opportunity of embarrassing the General Government & bringing it under suspicion - to flatter and fall in with all the non sense of the zealots of the day - It may justly be suspected that his object is to throw things into confusion that he may “ride the storm and direct the whirlwind.”

It has aptly been observed that Cato was the Tory-Cæsar the whig of his day. The former frequently resisted - the latter always flattered the follies of the people. Yet the former perished with the Republic the latter destroyed it.

No popular Government was ever without its Catalines & its Cæsars. These are its true enemies.
​

Then there was Wise Old Doctor Franklin warning that

in Europe, the Spaniards, Italians, French, Russians and Swedes, are generally of what we call a swarthy Complexion; as are the Germans also, the Saxons only excepted ... Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a Colony of Aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them, and will never adopt our Language or Customs, any more than they can acquire our Complexion.​

Bunch of radicals arguing like Repubs and Dems today.. Or dissing "populists".. Probably BEFORE the word populist was ever invented.

I have a collection of Founder "instructions" about political parties. They really worried about a 2 party system locked in a death match. It's the REAL tyranny the founders warned about. And it's come to pass.

Welcome to USMB btw. Seems like you're a "keeper".. Unless you go full zealot on us shortly..

Theories vs practicalities. Sort of like the Two Top system in California. Facts are the ones who wrote about fears of a two party system, started that system, out of political necessity

Don't get me started on Top Two exclusionary disenfranching political highjinks. I actually fought that crap with the Libertarians out there for years. Took them forever to fool the voters. Let's stick with the inspirational psalms from the founders.

I read a -- believe it was a Tweet, by some nincompoop claiming the terrible consequences were spelled out and voted for. Was it Prop14? Claiming

 

[flacaltenn]

Didn't know Doc Franklin was full of angst about the swarthy vs the pale. Huzzah. THat's racist. If only he lived another 80 years or so..

 

[JBvM]

Didn't know Doc Franklin was full of angst about the swarthy vs the pale. Huzzah. THat's racist. If only he lived another 80 years or so..

In context he is being refreshingly honest. He speaks about people naturally self segregating and identifying with their own kind. It's not an evil, angry, violent response. It's more of observational worry. Of course he could only go on what was the known science of his time - sort of like the silly stories in the Holy books.

Ben includes his beloved French. Context, see?

 

[Marion Morrison]

hmm

 

[JBvM]

hmm

why? Do you think they were warning us about today?

 

[Marion Morrison]

hmm

why? Do you think they were warning us about today?

I'm just wondering about that word salad tosser.

 

[JBvM]

hmm

why? Do you think they were warning us about today?

I'm just wondering about that word salad tosser.

EYE.C.

During their time, many of the leading men of the founding generation were intelligent as well as educated. I guess people who are stuck with knowing only leaders during the last century and a half, are used to educated men and women, who are not always as intellectually tutored as they are educated.

 

[whitehall]

Interesting that the little essay goes back to the Roman Empire but never mentions the greatest document ever created, the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution isn't just a guideline for government, it is the foundation for the rule of law. Sometimes mostly ignorant people find a couple of lines from Hamilton or even Caesar to reinforce their anger or frustration about an election or an administration but it's just smoke and mirrors. History tells us that Lincoln threw the Constitution in the garbage for a while but the Nation survived and FDR was a despot who authorized the incarceration of innocent citizens without due process. There is an ongoing struggle mostly on the left today to throw out certain parts of the 1st Amendment and most of the 2nd Amendment but so far the document created by the Founding Fathers in a summers work has lasted.

 

[JBvM]

Interesting that the little essay goes back to the Roman Empire but never mentions the greatest document ever created, the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution isn't just a guideline for government, it is the foundation for the rule of law. Sometimes mostly ignorant people find a couple of lines from Hamilton or even Caesar to reinforce their anger or frustration about an election or an administration but it's just smoke and mirrors. History tells us that Lincoln threw the Constitution in the garbage for a while but the Nation survived and FDR was a despot who authorized the incarceration of innocent citizens without due process. There is an ongoing struggle mostly on the left today to throw out certain parts of the 1st Amendment and most of the 2nd Amendment but so far the document created by the Founding Fathers in a summers work has lasted.

Is there really "an ongoing struggle mostly on the left today to throw out certain parts of the 1st Amendment and most of the 2nd Amendment..." and if true, has this Left really ever had any real influence and power?

and the second part of your statement "...but so far the document created by the Founding Fathers in a summers work has lasted." is a laughable attempt of you hitching your bandwagon to the founding generation.

Do you go down to the local Post Office in order to salute the flag in public?

 

[JBvM]

Interesting that the little essay goes back to the Roman Empire but never mentions the greatest document ever created, the U.S. Constitution

That Little Essay was written by founders. Such a small and narrow mind it takes to not see the forest for the trees here

 

[whitehall]

Interesting that the little essay goes back to the Roman Empire but never mentions the greatest document ever created, the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution isn't just a guideline for government, it is the foundation for the rule of law. Sometimes mostly ignorant people find a couple of lines from Hamilton or even Caesar to reinforce their anger or frustration about an election or an administration but it's just smoke and mirrors. History tells us that Lincoln threw the Constitution in the garbage for a while but the Nation survived and FDR was a despot who authorized the incarceration of innocent citizens without due process. There is an ongoing struggle mostly on the left today to throw out certain parts of the 1st Amendment and most of the 2nd Amendment but so far the document created by the Founding Fathers in a summers work has lasted.

Is there really "an ongoing struggle mostly on the left today to throw out certain parts of the 1st Amendment and most of the 2nd Amendment..." and if true, has this Left really ever had any real influence and power?

and the second part of your statement "...but so far the document created by the Founding Fathers in a summers work has lasted." is a laughable attempt of you hitching your bandwagon to the founding generation.

Do you go down to the local Post Office in order to salute the flag in public?

When FDR nominated a former KKK member to the Supreme Court, Justice Black was apparently influenced by bigotry against the Papists who were establishing schools throughout the Country in the 40's. Black rewrote the Constitution around 1948 claiming that there was a Constitutional "separation of church and state" that did not appear anywhere in the Constitution. The church and state issue was later expanded to outlaw Christmas trees on public property and later to demolish a Korean War monument that contained a 40 ft Cross. Clearly the 1st Amendment freedom of religion is under assault. President Obama authorized a bill ironically called the "fairness doctrine" that would have forced (at gunpoint?) talk radio to broadcast left wing propaganda. The bill never had legs but it is a symbol of the assault on another 1st Amendment guarantee of freedom of speech.

 

[JBvM]

When FDR nominated a former KKK member to the Supreme Court, Justice Black was apparently influenced by bigotry against the Papists who were establishing schools throughout the Country in the 40's. Black rewrote the Constitution around 1948 claiming that there was a Constitutional "separation of church and state" that did not appear anywhere in the Constitution. The church and state issue was later expanded to outlaw Christmas trees on public property and later to demolish a Korean War monument that contained a 40 ft Cross. Clearly the 1st Amendment freedom of religion is under assault. President Obama authorized a bill ironically called the "fairness doctrine" that would have forced (at gunpoint?) talk radio to broadcast left wing propaganda. The bill never had legs but it is a symbol of the assault on another 1st Amendment guarantee of freedom of speech.

OMG! You believe you can use Justice Black in this way? LOL let me open up one of the books I have by my side. be right back little fella

 

[Crepitus]

Alexander Hamilton warned us about the convulsions and disorders that could weaken or destroy a republic like ours, as a consequences of the acts of popular demagogues and petty despots.

The truth unquestionably is, that the only path to a subversion of the republican system of the Country is, by flattering the prejudices of the people, and exciting their jealousies and apprehensions, to throw affairs into confusion, and bring on civil commotion. Tired at length of anarchy, or want of government, they may take shelter in the arms of monarchy for repose and security.

When a man unprincipled in private life desperate in his fortune, bold in his temper, possessed of considerable talents, having the advantage of military habits - despotic in his ordinary demeanour - known to have scoffed in private at the principles of liberty - when such a man is seen to mount the hobby horse of popularity - to join in the cry of danger to liberty - to take every opportunity of embarrassing the General Government & bringing it under suspicion - to flatter and fall in with all the non sense of the zealots of the day - It may justly be suspected that his object is to throw things into confusion that he may “ride the storm and direct the whirlwind.”

It has aptly been observed that Cato was the Tory-Cæsar the whig of his day. The former frequently resisted - the latter always flattered the follies of the people. Yet the former perished with the Republic the latter destroyed it.

No popular Government was ever without its Catalines & its Cæsars. These are its true enemies.
​

Then there was Wise Old Doctor Franklin warning that

in Europe, the Spaniards, Italians, French, Russians and Swedes, are generally of what we call a swarthy Complexion; as are the Germans also, the Saxons only excepted ... Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a Colony of Aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them, and will never adopt our Language or Customs, any more than they can acquire our Complexion.​

Your Franklin quote is racism masquerading as patriotism.

 

[JBvM]

Your Franklin quote is racism masquerading as patriotism.

There you go again with projection. Ben was not arguing out of patriotism. LOL

What a tool

 

[Crepitus]

Your Franklin quote is racism masquerading as patriotism.

There you go again with projection. Ben was not arguing out of patriotism. LOL

What a tool

Our friend the OP was trying for it though.