On the Fourth
May I suggest three things for which to spare a moment’s thought as we celebrate?
First, the breathtaking contingency of the American republic, which emerged from such an overwhelmingly unlikely combination of brilliant (and not-so brilliant) men, the historical moment of English liberal philosophy, close shaves, near-disasters, and many more unlikely factors that some of the hardest-headed Founders saw the hand of Providence behind it, as the mundane odds were so ludicrously against it.
Second, a thought for the fact that the ratification of the Declaration, the War, and the establishment of the republic were all messy, imperfect, often ugly events, as so many political (and all martial) events are. The compromise with the southern colonies to allow them to maintain their cruel “peculiar institution” was the most terrible, eventuating the Civil War and many other baleful consequences. However, would independence have been possible otherwise? Probably not. It’s an object lesson that there are no free lunches, and that glorious triumphs often have awful costs.
Third, a toast to Clay, Gallatin, and J.Q. Adams, and their British counterparts who negotiated the Treaty of Ghent in 1815 which finally brought the great Anglo-American conflict to an end. They inaugurated an era of peace in the Atlantic which was by no means inevitable and which later became the foundation of perhaps the warmest relationship between major powers and potential rivals the world has ever seen.
So, go read Claire’s post above to your gathered revelers, and then sing along to the Preamble.
Happy Independence Day!
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May '10
Re: On the Fourth
You brilliantly stated the second point.
Re: On the Fourth
Thanks, Matthew. Much appreciated.
Aug '10
Re: On the Fourth
It was all brilliantly stated. Thank you, Bill.
And thanks for the video, too. Nothing says "Constitutional" like banjos.
Re: On the Fourth
I blush, Crotala. Thanks.