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Thoughts on the 4th of July by Calvin Coolidge
University of California, Santa Barbara ^ | July 5, 1926 | Calvin Coolidge

Posted on 07/04/2013 10:23:05 PM PDT by donmeaker

About the Declaration there is a finality that is exceedingly restful. 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.


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: philosophy
Not just a great president, but a darned good philosopher too.
1 posted on 07/04/2013 10:23:05 PM PDT by donmeaker
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To: donmeaker

For sure.


2 posted on 07/04/2013 10:38:37 PM PDT by laplata (Liberals don't get it. Their minds have been stolen.)
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To: donmeaker

Spot on.


3 posted on 07/04/2013 10:40:58 PM PDT by UpInArms (without failure there's no success only slavery)
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To: donmeaker

Good Thought


4 posted on 07/04/2013 11:01:54 PM PDT by Big Red Badger ("don't hurt me , G 'man!")
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To: donmeaker

I cannot reconcile what “silent Cal” taught of the meaning of our Declaration of Independence to what the Usurper and his evil Administration seems think it means.


5 posted on 07/05/2013 4:05:10 AM PDT by StonyBurk (ring)
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