“But this institution was republican, and even democratic. And here not to be misunderstood, I mean by democratic, a government, the administration of which must always be rendered comfortable to that predominating public opinion . . . and by republican I mean a government reposing, not upon the virtues or the powers of any one man - not upon that honor, which Montesquieu lays down as the fundamental principle of monarchy - far less upon that fear which he pronounces the basis of despotism; but upon that virtue which he, a noble of aristocratic peerage, and the subject of an absolute monarch, boldly proclaims as a fundamental principle of republican government. The Constitution of the United States was republican and democratic - but the experience of all former ages had shown that of all human governments, democracy was the most unstable, fluctuating and short-lived; and it was obvious that if virtue - the virtue of the people, was the foundation of republican government, the stability and duration of the government must depend upon the stability and duration of the virtue by which it is sustained.” - John Quincy Adams - "Jubilee" Address, April, 1839Just because the liberals/progressives have promoted in error the idea that the wise Founders and Framers of our Constitution gave us a "democracy" does not make it the truth. As a matter of fact, they indicated clearly why, as JQA stated above.
Also, Benjamin Franklin left the Hall, he stated to the lady who questioned what kind of government they had formed, "A Republic, Madam, if you can keep it."
Wouldn't it be great if the "Republic-ans" like McCain and other Republicans knew, and could articulate, that idea?
My experience with most Republicans is that could care less about the Constitution, our founding principles, or the lessons of history. They just want to get at the pie before the slices are all gone.
The sobering lesson of history is that our forms of government are unstable because most people are unstable.