Ramesh: Lincoln had a response to Dionne (and Klein) on the Constitution, albeit 173 years early:
Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well wisher to his posterity, swear by the blood of the Revolution, never to violate in the least particular, the laws of the country; and never to tolerate their violation by others. As the patriots of seventy-six did to the support of the Declaration of Independence, so to the support of the Constitution and Laws, let every American pledge his life, his property, and his sacred honor;–let every man remember that to violate the law, is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the character of his own, and his children’s liberty. Let reverence for the laws, be breathed by every American mother, to the lisping babe, that prattles on her lap–let it be taught in schools, in seminaries, and in colleges; let it be written in Primers, spelling books, and in Almanacs;–let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative halls, and enforced in courts of justice. And, in short, let it become the political religion of the nation; and let the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the grave and the gay, of all sexes and tongues, and colors and conditions, sacrifice unceasingly upon its altars.
"...unless it is expedient and righteous to temporarily disregard it. You gotta do what you gotta do."
Oops.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThat was one of the most memorable writings from my "American Political Philosophy" course in college, and one of the most moving for most of the students.
Unfortunately, the political class (probably including many former students moved by that passage at some point in their educational careers), businesses, and illegal immigrants make a farce of the political religion of the rest of us, the notion of a race-neutral Rule of Law providing a spine for the country.
Interesting that the Republicans haven't spoken much about restoring the Rule of Law since they were swept into power. Not only do Americans demand it, but it's also the philosophical linchpin of our philosophically founded nation.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseStirring, but wasted on weenies to whom every year is Year Zero.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhatever. Lincoln wrote that speech more than 100 years ago. He could have meant anything by it.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"the grave and the gay"? Pretty open-minded for a statement predating the repeal of DADT
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHear, Hear!
Well said, great-great Grandpa!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThat's what makes the United States of America unique, or nearly so, among the nations of the Earth: we are not a nation of Blood, or of Soil, but of an Idea, and anyone willing to adopt that idea as his own is welcome to be an American.
To reject the primacy of that Idea as the organizing and animating force of our nation, as so many in the modern political class do, is to start America on the slippery slope to nationhood defined only by Blood and Soil -- and thus to open up the future of America to domination by one faction or the other that declares its bloodline or soil of origin superior to any other.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseExpect many comments and emails from Trekkers, including members of the NRO staff, pointing out that the common spelling is thought to be "E Plebnista."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDon't forget, either, Calvin Coolidge, speaking on the 150 anniversary of the Declaration of Independence:
"It is not so much then for the purpose of undertaking to proclaim new theories and principles that this annual celebration is maintained, but rather to reaffirm and reestablish those old theories and principles which time and the unerring logic of events have demonstrated to be sound. Amid all the clash of conflicting interests, amid all the welter of partisan politics, every American can turn for solace and consolation to the Declaration of independence and the Constitution of the United States with the assurance and confidence that those two great charters of freedom and justice remain firm and unshaken. Whatever perils appear, whatever dangers threaten, the Nation remains secure in the knowledge that the ultimate application of the law of the land will provide an adequate defense and protection."
External Link
Although, Coolidge was speaking almost 100 years ago, so his words are starting to get confusing. Really, they're almost incomprehensible by now (at least to Ezra Klein, who would say that Coolidge wrote his speech more than 20 years ago).
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'm a huge fan of President Lincoln, but I'm not sure he's the best example of someone who, in actual practice, was unwilling to "violate, in the least particular, the laws of the country".
Not saying that I would have conducted myself differently than Lincoln from March-December 1861 - only that Lincoln, like many other politicians, had a habit of expressing most forcefully and absolutely the principles he was most likely to violate.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseE Plebneesta! Love it!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf only Abe's (you don't mind if I call you Abe, do you?) comment hadn't been written so, so long ago. All those old-timey big words have me so confused. Can somebody from Harvard or Yale or even Brown translate into Twitterish for me?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHe spoke the Yang worship words! Burn him!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLincoln's words there may have meant more if he hadn't violated the Constitution himself. Everyone reveres the Constitution as long as they can ignore it when it's convenient.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYes, Lincoln did some interesting things. But the south was unwilling to follow a political resolution and fired the first shot. That gave Lincoln all the ammunition he wanted. Firing on Ft Sumtner pretty much sealed the deal and undercuts much of the argument from those that Lincoln shredded the constitution.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf some of you are wondering why some of that Lincoln quote sounds so familiar, it is because parts of it were used in the cobbled-together-from-several-of-his-speeches oration given by the animatronic robot Lincoln in the Disney show "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" seen originally at the NY World's Fair, then at Disneyland, and then, as part of the "Hall of Presidents" show, at Walt Disney World. ANd for the REALLY trivia-oriented, the actor who interpreted Lincoln's words was....Royal Dano.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSpoken like a true lawyer.
If Lincoln saw the horror show that is today's federal criminal code, he'd be a lot less inclined to ask that we shed blood to preserve it.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAy plegli ianectu flaggen, tupep like for stahn...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLincoln, a true Burkean, concealed his radicalism in the cloak of continuity. By linking the declaration of independence to the Constitution he made 1776 and not 1787 the founding of the Republic. He transformed the Constitution from a document that guaranteed slavery to one that was but an imperfect to realize the true American ideals as expressed by the Declaration.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHowdy New Yawk, ya ain't makin' no dang sense, Thirteenth Amendment and all.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse