What Did the Founders Say About Democracy?
The story goes that Benjamin Franklin was approached by a woman as he left the Constitutional Convention [1. Recorded by Constitution signer James McHenry in his diary which was reprinted…
A Republic If You Can Keep It
The story goes that Benjamin Franklin was approached by a woman as he left the Constitutional Convention (1, 2). She asked, “What have you given us?” Franklin is said to have replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” This exchange was common knowledge 50 years or so ago, as commonly taught to schoolchildren as [...]
Slave to Revisionism
Editor’s note: This article is the final installment (for now) in a series “inspired” by a July 4 piece in the Lincoln Journal Star (title noted below). Click here for a full list of titles in the series. Whatever the Founders’ reasons, slavery’s omission from the political agenda remains a shameful spot on our nation’s founding, [...]