Posted on 06/08/2020 1:29:16 AM PDT by Jacquerie
“There is . . . in the world (one nation) that has for the direct end of its constitution political liberty.” With these words, Charles de Montesquieu differentiated the purpose, the object, the end of the English constitution from those of other nations. Rome sought expansion, Sparta sought war, religion drove the Jewish laws, and commerce that of Marseilles. When this French nobleman wrote his Spirit of the Laws in 1748, he admitted France’s ages-old enemy, England, had the freest people on earth.1
In words that resonate today, he defined political liberty as the “tranquility of mind arising from the opinion each person has for his safety. In order to have this liberty, it is requisite the government be so constituted as one man need not be afraid of another.” He wasn’t speaking so much of safe travel or safety in one’s home. The liberty he spoke of was safety against majoritarian tyranny, was one in which the citizen needn’t fear elections, elections that might put people in government armed with arbitrary power to do him harm.2
Not only were Englishmen free, they were rich and getting richer. Thanks to their balanced constitution, the middle-class was large and getting larger as the kingdom’s achievements in commerce and war dwarfed those of other European nations. There was no mystery to England’s constitution; its three components, the King, Lords, and Commons, combined the ancient forms of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy, while avoiding the degenerate forms of totalitarianism, oligarchy and mob rule. Preserve the balance, and English liberty could extend indefinitely into the future.
(Excerpt) Read more at articlevblog.com ...
English liberty....that ended when they handed in their guns.
Another great history, education post. Thanks for your work, Jacquerie. Bringing historical references to now...today...consider this...
This Sunday show is incredible.
Such was our disgust, near the closing of the Declaration, we saw in George III a “Tyrant . . . unfit to be the Ruler of a free people.” Amidst his growing tyranny, we were prepared to fight to preserve the rights of Englishmen. At its core, the years leading to our revolution had less to do with non-representation in Parliament and far more to do with resistance, armed and otherwise, against the corruption...
Another history/current events BUMP! Growing tyranny in America right now ALERT!
Great post.
I didn’t know this piece of historical context regarding our constitution.
Thanks for posting.
Did you have a particular film clip in mind?
Thank you!
I appreciate.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.