"July 4th, 1776, on which day the representatives of three millions of people vocalized the contests of Lexington and Bunker Hill and gave notice to the world that they proposed to establish an independent nation on the theory that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. No wonder then that the glory of the American people is not the ringing declarations of that day; but in the actions already begun and in the process of being carried out in spite of every obstacle Tyranny could impose; making this theory of Freedom and Equality a Reality.
"We revere that day because it marks the beginning of independence; the beginnings of the Constitution, which was to bring freedom and equality to all American citizens. The beginnings of a government that was to recognize beyond all others the power, worth, and dignity of man. So then began the first government to acknowledge that it was founded upon the sovereignty of the people; where the world first beheld the revelation of modern Democracy.
"Democracy is not tearing-down, it is building up. It is not denial of the Divine Right of Kings, it supplements that claim with the affection of the Divine Right of All Men. It does not destroy, it fulfills. It is the consummation of all theories of government; a theory to which all nations of the earth must yield. It is engraved with such a force of the ages; it is the Alpha and Omega of man's relation to man---the beginning and the end. There is, and can be, no more doubt of the triumph of Democracy in human affairs than there is of the triumph of gravitational theory in the physical world. Beyond this lies the question of how and when this foundation lays hold upon Eternity. It is unconcerned with the idolatry of despotisms, or treasons, or rebellions which are bound to fail; but bows in reverence before Moses' Law and the Light that shone on Calvary.
"The Declaration of Independence, predicated upon the glory of man with the high teachings of religious society that the Rights of citizens ought to be protected with every power of thought and faith; and the government which does any less is far from the teachings of that great document and far from the name of American. The affections of human rights does not call for human sacrifice. This has yet to perish from the American people. Only so long as this flame burns shall we endure; and the Light of Liberty shall sweep over the nations of the earth. Then shall be peace for the nations and peace for America.
"Only the devotion of this spirit; only the intensity of this flame and to the Eternal Truth of Our Lord's time: 'What were our lives without faith?' What all our lives and faith is that we wreck not what He gave us, we will not bear to doubt Him, but ask whatever else He will, and we will dare."
This speech was transcribed off of a nearly century-old phonograph record from a political leader whose New England accent was even more pronounced than President Kennedy's. Hence, it may not be 100% accurate, but the general theme is maintained. It was the general agreement among political theorists until recently that the broader applications of the Christian Faith into society led to the freest government. Though Church and State are separated by law, Faith and Civilization are inseparable if a people hope to remain free. With their purely literalist and materialist instincts, the radicals on both far Left and far Right fail to see the difference. Our separation of Church and State was not designed to suppress Faith; but to allow the workings and applications of Faith its maximum latitude in society.
No comments:
Post a Comment