Res Publica (A solid conservative reboot)

tea party tribune ^ | 4/17/12 | jim funkhouser

[HMS Surprise]

A guilty pleasure, that I surrender to occasionally, involves quizzing my fellow conservative compatriots about the core historical knowledge that is often taken for granted. Long before the Tea Party came along there was a burgeoning conservative movement in America that sought to rediscover and recover ancient principles and ideals of man’s relationship with government.

From Goldwater to Reagan, Limbaugh to Levin, and talk radio to the limitless font of internet information, historical truth is making a comeback.

Let’s start at the beginning. Before Caesar came the Republic. Res Publica, correctly translated, means “the public thing.” In a Republic the public thing is: The Law. This seems to be simple enough to understand, but in a society that has promoted the notion of democracy for a century, republican theory can be confusing to some. Make no mistake, and most conservatives agree, we live in a republic, and democracy is in no way a friend to its continued existence. But, I digress.

So if a republic refers to law, which law is it referring to? Is it referring to a constitution? Is that what a republic is? A nation with a constitution? Question: If the Constitution disappeared tomorrow, would the Republic disappear also?

Our Republic rests on ancient law that has its roots in the Old Testament, and its branches in the New Testament. This law gained a stamp of approval with the Magna Carta, and since the printing press it has acquired an ever-expanding iteration in what is often called “case law.” Our republic, and any republic for that matter, sits firmly upon the law of nature, and nature’s God. In America this universal denominator is called English Common Law.

[HMS Surprise]

The heart and soul of America.

[Godebert]

The sum of a republic, is The Law. Amen.

Then the republic has been lost.

[HMS Surprise]

I understand, but disagree. The Law is always there. It merely takes an awakening to its existence and an acceptance of its authority for it to become manifest. In fact, we need a strong understanding of it now more than ever just in case it all does go to hell. Liberty, justice, and rule of The Law, will emerge from the carcass, or there will be a thousand years of perdition. Hold fast to The Law.