CPR Lifeline Advisory - Thursday - 2/23/2023
Honoring George Washington -- Reconsidering the Value of Political Parties
This is a new newsletter for the Coalition for a Principled Republic (CPR) If you prefer not to receive it - let us know via email and ask to be removed from our mailing list. We offer ‘Too Much Information’ (TMI) on purpose; so, we advise readers to take in only what they are able to digest, and leave the rest…
Don't Want This Newsletter? Just delete or send a return request to "Remove" your address, and we'll take it off the distribution list.
_________________________________________________
CPR Lifeline Advisory - Thursday - 2/23/2023
_____________________________________________
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…
_________________________________________________
Moving forward into 2023 with our third CPR edition, we are featuring a two-pronged effort that is focused on 1) clarifying the foundational principles that need to be promoted to the general public and 2) spotlighting the member organizations by promoting the activities they are pursuing.
In light of this approach, we initially offered a sermon by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. dealing with the recovery of lost values. In our second edition, we offered messages from Ronald Reagan as well as Abraham Lincoln. We sense that their words ring as true in this time as in their times. An effort is purposely being made to strive to go deeper than the simplistic surface level of being engaged in life and the most important values to help people live their lives in freedom.
The linkage between the promotion of the individual messages was a way of honoring the men on their birthdays - when they made an entrance into the planet and history. Their words originated from the truths they had embraced and that they held fast to in their pursuit of freedom.
In this edition, we honor George Washington, as his birthday was on Wednesday, and it is also a national holiday celebrated because of an act of Congress. I offer an article on President Washington’s perceptions of political parties. We also offer a specific focus on words from his “Farewell Address.” My article is a rewrite of an article that was posted in the Washington Times in 2012. Here is a link provided to that original article for those who would like to refer back to it in its entirety: George Washington's views on political parties in America It has been reposted in other online publications since that time. Washington’s words were prophetic, and we are in the time he warned the people about back at the beginning of the young nation.
The CPR Advisory will continue into 2023 with our new newsletter, as we seek to promote the genuine ideals, principles, and values that were sought by the founding generation, as well as the patriots who rose when the need for greatness challenged the fabric of the nation. Now, new patriots are awakening each day, and our intent is to stimulate that awakening by tethering it as much as possible to those Judeo-Christian ideals, principles, and values that many Americans have given their lives or their livelihoods in order to substantiate those ideals in the world. The CPR is willing to work with other Christian, patriot, and conservative organizations to mobilize in response to the clear and present danger to our Republic. Currently, there are a dozen NGOs in limited coordination as individual member groups. There are many allies to our efforts.
As mentioned in the inaugural edition in January, “the intent was also to stimulate and support leadership and activism aimed at exercising those God-given rights to be able to retain our Constitutional Republic and to restore America as “One Nation Under God.” The original words of guidance from Heavenly Father in establishing the CPR were to re-establish covenant with Him, to establish and continually enhance the lines of communication with Him and one another, and to establish community in the process of working together on endeavors and projects worthy of investment. The connectedness of community is established through the importance or value attributed to the levels of communication that are needed to help each other, as people or as organizations. As mentioned in our inaugural edition, “we are now coming full circle as a nation, and the patriots have the choice to join in cooperative arrangements with other coalitions or confederations or associations working in the concerted effort to save the Republic. We need to join together, or the United States of America as a Constitutional Republic will die.”
Today, the Coalition for a Principled Republic exists as a grassroots alliance, or confederation, of organizations connected via common lines of communication and shared information and focused on promoting cooperative action on vital projects deemed compatible to organizations that seek to retain a Republic rooted in the shared ideals, principles, and values of our Judeo- Christian heritage. We actively seek alliances, so if readers belong to like-minded organizations, we request consideration as affiliated or partnered arrangements to work together. Divided the Republic could falter; but United, the “We the People” will stand!
George Washington’s views on political parties in America
By Dennis Jamison (rewritten 2/22/23)
When George Washington became President of the United States in 1789, the political parties.did not exist. There were political factions, yes. But, political parties were initially formed during Washington’s first term in office, in 1791 with the creation of Alexander Hamilton’s Federalist Party, and in the following year, formation of the Anti-Federalist Party or Democratic-Republicans under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson. The two political parties formulated their views of how government ought to operate in the new Republic.
At the end of Washington’s first term, as he was preparing to retire and go back to Mt. Vernon to simply be a farmer again, the leaders of the opposing parties both wanted him to reconsider with Hamilton and Jefferson pleading with Washington to stay on for a second term. Jefferson is credited as stating: “North and South will hang together if they have you to hang on.” Washington finally consented to such sentiments and was again the obvious choice of the Electoral College as they re-elected him in February of 1793.
Later, during Washington’s second term, the divisions between the two political parties
became more seriously defined. A good part of the underlying differences between the two factions centered on the French Revolution (1789-1799). In the beginning of French turmoil, Jefferson had been in France as the U.S. Minister where he witnessed firsthand the beginning of the end of the French monarchy. France’s King Louis XVI eventually was guillotined in March of 1793, and Jefferson, as Washington’s Secretary of State, favored U.S. support of the new French Republic and the revolutionaries. Jefferson even had a hand in writing of the Declaration of the Rights of Man. Nevertheless, the outcome of the French Revolution was not in alignment with such noble goals.
President Washington however, being more cautious, in May issued the Neutrality Proclamation, and Jefferson resigned his Secretarial post at the end of that year as he became disgusted with having to tolerate Washington’s policies. As war broke out in Europe between the new “French Republic” and the European monarchs, Washington resisted taking sides even though the Federalists were inclined to ally with the mother country, Great Britain, during this widespread European conflict.
The extreme irony in this conflict over support of France or Britain was that it was the French monarchy, not the revolutionary “republic” that had helped to finance the war against British tyranny. Jefferson favored supporting the factions that would have opposed helping the British colonies. In fact, one of the reasons for the financial difficulties of the French monarchy was because of their assistance with the War for Independence. The Federalists favored support of Great Britain, the former tyrant.
Washington was attempting to ensure the survival of the new American Republic by refusing to be caught up in the centuries-old British-French rivalries.
Yet, by refusing to come to the aide of France, Washington earned the wrath of the Democratic-Republican Party members, several of whom were newspaper editors.
Despite the attempt to remain neutral, American merchants still traded with both countries, to the ire of the British who started confiscating American ships and cargo that were destined to France or French territories. The British captured nearly 300 ships near the West Indies alone, and the concept of neutrality became a feeble cause.
In 1795 Washington sent Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay to negotiate a treaty
with the British regarding restitution of the lost ships and a number of outstanding issues with the motherland leftover from the revolution (like threatening to use the Indians to encroach upon newly won territories on the frontier as the French had done against the British only years prior. Neither of the two political parties were pleased by The Jay Treaty and it fell short of Washington’s objectives. Yet, the greatest opposition against Washington came simply from the appearance that he had taken sides in the securing of a trade agreement with Great Britain.
Congress had to debate the treaty behind closed doors due to the controversy, and when the public learned of the terms, Washington’s decision was attacked throughout all the states. Popular graffiti (yes it even existed in the 1700s) in Massachusetts told of reflected some of the anti-Federalist sentiment: “Damn John Jay! Damn everyone who won’t damn John Jay! Damn everyone who won’t stay up all night damning John Jay!”
When Alexander Hamilton appeared at a meeting in his home state of New York to explain the benefits of the treaty, crowds hissed and booed and some even threw stones at the Secretary of the Treasury.
Party lines and loyalty were drawn to the point of personal bitterness and public destructiveness. Such division along party lines represented the most severe split between the two political factions since the inception of the Republic. Such personal divisiveness was so bitter it made a deep impact upon Washington and the memory must have been in his mind as he wrote about the very real capacity of political parties to destroy the fragile unity holding the nation together.
It is not so much that Washington failed to understand the contribution of parties, but he was greatly concerned that they had previously, and would again, grow seeking more power than other groups to the detriment of the whole. Washington was aware that other governments viewed political parties as destructive because of the temptation to manifest and retain power, but also because they would often seek to extract revenge on political opponents. He viewed this to be detrimental to the young country as an entire nation. He also saw the dangers in sectionalism (North vs. South) and warned that political factions gaining enough power could seek to obstruct the execution of the laws that were created by Congress and could prevent the three branches from properly performing their duties as outlined in the Constitution.
President Washington expressed genuine concern in that “the alternate domination” of one political party over another, thereby allowing one party to enjoy temporary power over the government that would use it to obtain revenge on the other.” He felt that this tendency toward atrocities directed at the party out of power “…is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism.”
Reading the words of his Farewell Address, an adept reader may be astonished at how remarkably prophetic they are.
The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual;
and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or
more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes
of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.
Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless
ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.
It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public
administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.
Washington argued that political parties needed to be restrained in a free country with a government empowered by the consent of those who were governed and established through honest popular elections. He warned of the possibility fearing they could distract the government from its required duty to the people and even lead to the eradication of the freedoms established by the founding. We face such prospects today.
Unfortunately, it may be too late to restrain the hunger for power in today’s political parties; it has been enculturated in those who love power. In such a time as this, it is quite apparent what Washington was concerned about. Today, America is at the mercy of two powerful political parties. If a strong candidate wants to get elected to office for a public seat in this country, one usually needs some affiliation to the major parties. Based upon the history of “third” party forays from time to time, usually “third” parties are very limited in strength and often serve only to undermine one or another of the major parties in the capacity of a “spoiler.” The political parties today need to purge the power seekers and look for the public servants who are in alignment with the values
If Washington could see America now, probably the only thing that he could say after getting over the shock, would likely be: “I told you so!”
Extensive excerpts of President George Washington’s Farewell Address
From History.com – “In 1796, as he neared the end of his second term, President George Washington was 64 years old and suffering from ills both physical and political. Plagued by painful dentures and rheumatism, and facing increasing attacks from opponents of his policies, the former Revolutionary War general decided he would not seek a third term in the nation’s highest office.
As he did so, he and his longtime friend and protégé, Alexander Hamilton, drafted a farewell address. In the 7,641-word document, the nation’s first president called for the American people to remain unified, resist the rise of political factions and avoid the influence of foreign powers…”
“...Towards the preservation of your government, and the permanency of your present happy state, it is requisite, not only that you steadily discountenance irregular oppositions to its acknowledged authority, but also that you resist with care the spirit of innovation upon its principles, however specious the pretexts. One method of assault may be to effect, in the forms of the Constitution, alterations which will impair the energy of the system, and thus to undermine what cannot be directly overthrown. In all the changes to which you may be invited, remember that time and habit are at least as necessary to fix the true character of governments as of other human institutions; that experience is the surest standard by which to test the real tendency of the existing constitution of a country; that facility in changes, upon the credit of mere hypothesis and opinion, exposes to perpetual change, from the endless variety of hypothesis and opinion; and remember, especially, that for the efficient management of your common interests, in a country so extensive as ours, a government of as much vigor as is consistent with the perfect security of liberty is indispensable. Liberty itself will find in such a government, with powers properly distributed and adjusted, its surest guardian. It is, indeed, little else than a name, where the government is too feeble to withstand the enterprises of faction, to confine each member of the society within the limits prescribed by the laws, and to maintain all in the secure and tranquil enjoyment of the rights of person and property.
I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.
This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.
The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.
Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.
It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.
There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.
It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration, to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism. A just estimate of that love of power, and proneness to abuse it, which predominates in the human heart, is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position. The necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, by dividing and distributing it into different depositaries, and constituting each the guardian of the public weal against invasions by the others, has been evinced by experiments ancient and modern; some of them in our country and under our own eyes. To preserve them must be as necessary as to institute them. If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed. The precedent must always greatly overbalance in permanent evil any partial or transient benefit, which the use can at any time yield.
Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who that is a sincere friend to it can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?
Promote then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened…
Article links…
Opinion: George Washington anticipated our partisan doom — here's how we avoid it – From Deseret News
Why George Washington still matters in America's history, present and future | Opinion – From The Tennessean
Celebrating Founding Father George Washington – From NTD News
The Case For Black Patriotism by Glenn C. Loury | Articles – From First Things
From The American Minute with Bill Federer: Presidents' Day -- George Washington's Birthday - Presidents' Day is actually Washington's birthday, recognized by an Act of Congress for government offices in Washington, D.C., in 1879, and for all federal offices in 1885. – 2/20/23
Coalition Action…
From JR Harrison of the Natural Family Foundation: Aiming at Schools
From Stephanie Mann of Safe Kids Now: Freedom Can Defeat America’s Victim Culture!
From Pastor Earl Wallace - Liberty Christian Fellowship: The Founder's Focused On The Word
From Forward by Faith: Annette Frances interview with Michael Ortega of Strike Force of Prayer
Review > From Catching Fire News: J6 DEFENDANT SPEAKS OUT - Hal Shurtleff of Camp Constitution interviews Jenny Cudd, a J6 defendant shares her story, and stories of other J6 political prisoners still being held behind bars on trumped up charges.
Coalition Resources - follow the links…
Citizen Sentinels Network - Citizen Voice News: Citizen Voice | Substack
Liberty Christian Fellowship: About Us – Liberty Christian Fellowship
Strike Force of Prayer Strike Force of Prayer website
Safe Family and Neighborhood Resource: Safe Kids Now
Resource Promoting the Natural Family & Family Values: Natural Family Foundation
MinuteMen United: About the Minutemen
Right to Believe: Religious Freedom - My Right to Believe
Christian Homeschool Resources: Ed-Exit
Christian Constitution Education Resource: Camp Constitution.net
Liberty Tree Constitution Education Resource: LIBERTY TREE ONLINE UNIVERSITY
Video links…
From Infidel Warrior: Ronald Regan’s Warriors Pledge Speech - 1/20/1981
From Policy ed (video): Responsibility and Leadership with Army Lt. Col. Keith Miller | Hoover Institution
From "Birth of a New Nation" Speech by Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King Beloved Community - given 4/7/1957 at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, AL.
Uncommon Knowledge (video): The Importance of Being Ethical, with Jordan Peterson
ICYMI > Konstantin Kisin On Free Speech, Vladimir Putin, Jordan Peterson, Greta Thunberg, & Bitcoin – From Anthony Pompliano
Podcast links…
From Victor Davis Hanson Show: Cage Fight with Bruce Thornton - Prof. Hanson interviews writer and scholar Bruce Thornton on his book Cage Fight about civilian-military tensions from antiquity to the present with essays on ancient Athens, the American Civil War, the Cold War, and Vietnam.
From 'Life, Liberty & Levin' w/ Mark Levin: BILL OF RIGHTS VIOLATED
From American Center for Law and Justice (w/ Jay and Jordan Sekulow): America in Crisis
“History As It Happens” Podcast - Martin Di Caro: Special Section - The 1619 Hustle - Washington Times
ICYMI > From The Academy of Ideas: Why Do People Flee from Freedom?
Recommended Resources - follow the links…
Excellent Citizen Activist Resource: Precinct Strategy: Home
To Restore our educational system to the excellence, morality and patriotism envisioned by our American Founders: For Kids And Country
Public School Exit Resource: Public School Exit - Online Education Impact Program
CRT information for parents, which they can download: Moms for America
Washington Times Constitution Education Resource: Special Section - To The Republic: Rediscovering the Constitution -
Election Education Resources - follow the links…
From The Heritage Foundation: It’s Time to Audit: Every State, Every Election | The Heritage Foundation – 10/20/22
National Election Resource: Election Integrity Scorecard – From The Heritage Foundation
National Election Resource: Voter Fraud Map: Election Fraud Database – From Heritage
Excellent Non-Partisan Election Resource: Election Integrity Project California
National Election Resource: My Voter Hub – From My Faith Votes
National Election Resource: From True the Vote - Election Integrity Tip Line: Tip Line
2020 Election Education Resource: US 2020 Election Fraud at a Glance
National Election Resource: VotifyNow