Posted on 07/01/2011 4:13:58 PM PDT by Kaslin
Calvin Coolidge speech on the Occasion of the 150 anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Categories: Declaration of Independence
Date: July 5, 1926
About the Declaration there is a finality that is exceedingly restfull. It is often asserted that the world has made a great deal of progress since 1776, that we have had new thoughts and new experiences which have given us a great advance over the people of that day, and that we may therefore very well discard their conclusions for something more modern. But that reasoning can not be applied to this great charter. If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions. If anyone wishes to deny their truth or their soundness, the only direction in which he can proceed historically is not forward, but backward toward the time when there was no equality, no rights of the individual, no rule of the people. Those who wish to proceed in that direction can not lay claim to progress. They are reactionary. Their ideas are not more modern, but more ancient, than those of the Revolutionary fathers.
I’m not doing any canning but I do like to be prepared and stock up on things when they’re on sale. I’ve always been a fan of self-reliance skills of all kinds. What in the world are dilly beans? I don’t think I have ever heard of those.
Not to congress or the White House.
Ironically, the Constitution is more important to the success of the liberal or progressive groups than to conservatives. While they might pervert the meaning, ignore restraints, violate the basic principles at will, and generally have no respect for any limitation on their actions, they still depend on their opposition to continue respecting and abiding by the rules. While they can politicize the courts, they must depend on their opposition’s continued respect for the judicial framework to enforce the resulting political rulings. If the time ever comes when the Constitution is rendered irrelevant, the progressive movement will be the biggest loser. Without general respect for the Constitution, raw power would prevail and progressives are not well equipped by numbers, arms, or nature to deal in that environment.
This is a great web site! Have fun exploring it!
Oh, green beans! Thank you, bookmarked in the ‘self reliance’ folder. It has been so long since I have had my own garden it’s a crying shame. When your green beans are big enough to eat but tender enough that they don’t need to be cooked try this; eat some fresh picked raw green beans with some cashews. You won’t believe how amazing the taste is.
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