Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: The Role of the Elected Is to Serve the People

Posted on February 4, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“We are not to consider ourselves, while here, as at church or school, to listen to the harangues of speculative piety; we are here to talk of the political interests committed to our charge.” – Fisher Ames (1789) … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles, Uncategorized | Tagged Duty, Elected, First Principles, Fisher Ames, Govenance, Government, Self Righteousness, Service | Leave a comment

First Principles: Virtue Is the Foundation of A Free Constitution

Posted on February 3, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure virtue.” – John Adams (1776) A person seems to keep wanting me to say something more than the founders of our republic said. The choice posed to me is am I … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Constitution, First Principles, Foundation, Freedom, John Adams, Private Virtue, Public Virtue, Purity, Republic, Virtue | Leave a comment

First Principles: Mental Stimulation Promotes the Wealth of Nations

Posted on February 2, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“To cherish and stimulate the activity of the human mind, by multiplying the objects of enterprise, is not among the least considerable of the expedients, by which the wealth of a nation may be promoted.” – Alexander Hamilton (1791) … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Alexander Hamilton, Cherish, Economy, Enterprise, Expedients, Human Minds, Promote, Stimulate, Wealth | Leave a comment

First Principles: A Certain Amount of Resisting Government Should Be Kept Alive

Posted on February 1, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive.” – Thomas Jefferson (1787)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Duty, First Principles, Government, Injustice, Justice, Resistance, Thomas Jefferson, Valuable | Leave a comment

First Principles: When War Becomes Necessary, Immediately Set Out the Terms of Peace

Posted on January 31, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“To render the justice of the war on our part the more conspicuous, the reluctance to commence it was followed by the earliest and strongest manifestations of a disposition to arrest its progress. The sword was scarcely out of the … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged James Madison, Just War, Justice, Peacemaker, Prevention, Reluctance, Terms of Peace, War of 1812 | Leave a comment

First Principles: Love of Liberty Encourages Bravery

Posted on January 30, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.” – Alexander Hamilton (1775)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Acts, Alexander Hamilton, Bravery, Enthusiam, Heroism, Human Nature, Liberty, Rise | Leave a comment

First Principles: Love of Country Requires Valuing Its Defense

Posted on January 29, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Every man who loves peace, every man who loves his country, every man who loves liberty ought to have it ever before his eyes that he may cherish in his heart a due attachment to the Union of America and … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Defense, Federalist No. 41, Federalist Papers, First Principles, James Madison, Liberty, Patriotism, Peace, Perservation | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Right To Vote Is A Solemn Duty To God and Country

Posted on January 28, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual — or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Accountable, Citizen, Citizenship, Country, First Principles, God, Samuel Adams, Solemn Trust, Vote | Leave a comment

First Principles: Diffusion of Knowledge and Virtue Secures Our Liberty

Posted on January 27, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“If virtue and knowledge are diffused among the people, they will never be enslaved. This will be their great security.” – Samuel Adams, letter to James Warren, 1779