Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: To Be Respected Be Respectable

Posted on May 7, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“No government, any more than an individual, will long be respected without being truly respectable; nor be truly respectable, without possessing a certain portion of order and stability.” – James Madison, Federalist No. 62, 1788

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Federalist Paper No. 62, First Principles, Government, Individual, James Madison, Order, Respect, Respectable, Stability | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Purpose of the Legislature Is To Maintain and Secure Our Natural Rights

Posted on May 6, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Our legislators are not sufficiently apprized of the rightful limits of their power; that their true office is to declare and enforce only our natural rights and duties, and to take none of them from us.” – Thomas Jefferson, Letter … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Declaration, Enforcement, First Principles, Legislators, Legislature, Natural Duties, Natural Rights, Power, Rightful Limits, Thomas Jefferson | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Private Character Serves to Instruct On Public Persons

Posted on May 5, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The public cannot be too curious concerning the characters of public men.” – Samuel Adams (1775)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Character, Citizens, First Principles, Leaders, manners, Private, Public, Public Trust, Samuel Adams, Vigilience | Leave a comment

First Principles: A Republic Is Defined As Ruled By Laws Not Men

Posted on May 4, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“They define a republic to be a government of laws, and not of men.” – John Adams, Novanglus No. 7, 1775

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Definition, First Principles, Government, John Adams, Men, Novanglius Essays, Republic, Rule of Law | Leave a comment

First Principles: Patriotism Is As Much A Virtue As Justice

Posted on May 3, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Patriotism is as much a virtue as justice, and is as necessary for the support of societies as natural affection is for the support of families.” – Benjamin Rush (1773)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Benjamin Rush, Civic Duty, Family, First Principles, Justice, Natural Affection, Patriotism, Society, Virtue | Leave a comment

First Principles: Freedom of the Press Does Not Include Freedom to Endlessly Insult, Accuse and Defame Others

Posted on May 1, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“If by the liberty of the press were understood merely the liberty of discussing the propriety of public measures and political opinions, let us have as much of it as you please: But if it means the liberty of affronting, … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Abuse, Affront, Benjamin Franklin, Caluminating, Defamination, First Principles, Freedom of the Press, Liberty, Measures, Opinions, Propriety | Leave a comment

First Principles: Executive Nominees Are Subject To Congressional Approval To Weed Out the Bad Seed

Posted on April 30, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“If the president alone was vested with the power of appointing all officers, and was left to select a council for himself, he would be liable to be deceived by flatterers and pretenders to patriotism.” – Roger Sherman, to John … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Appointees, Cabinet, Congress, False Patriotism, First Principles, John Adams, President, Roger Sherman, Secretaries | Leave a comment

First Principles: To Have A Reputation for Weakness Destroys A Nation’s Credibility

Posted on April 29, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“There is a rank due to the United States, among nations, which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation of weakness.” – George Washington, Fifth Annual Message, 1793

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Credibility, First Principles, George Washington, Rank, Reputation, Weakness | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Most Important Role of the Executive Is to Preserve, Protect and Defend the Constitution

Posted on April 28, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The duty imposed upon him to take care, that the laws be faithfully executed, follows out the strong injunctions of his oath of office, that he will ‘preserve, protect, and defend the constitution.’ The great object of the executive department … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Defend, Duty, Executive, Faithful, First Principles, Governance, Joseph Story, Oath of Office, Preserve, Protect | Leave a comment

First Principles: Guard Against the Impostures of False Patriotism

Posted on April 27, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.” – George Washington (1796)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Against, False, Farewell Address, First Principles, George Washington, Guard, Imposture, Patriotism | Leave a comment