4th President James Madison in 1875 puts current events in perspective

[Rodger Dodger]

After reading the posts for the past several months drove me to look up something I read many years ago. Took me months to track it down: I believe it need serious consideration considering current events.

On April 20, 1795, James Madison who had just helped shepherd through the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and would become President of the United States in the following decade, wrote:

"Of all the enemies to the public liberty was is, perhaps,the most to be dreaded because it comprises and developers the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceeds debts and taxes. An armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few."

Reflecting on the ability of a president to use war as an excuse to become a virtual dictator, Madison continued his letter:

"In war, too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended. Its influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments to is multiplied; and all the means of seducing the minds, are added to those subduing the force of the people. The same malignant aspect in republicanism may be traced in the inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war...and in the degeneracy of manners and morals, engendered by both.

"No Nation," our fourth President and the Father of the Constitution concluded, "could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare."

I believe the WAR ON TERRORISM WILL,is a PLOY, to keep all citizens at bay.

[Sammy Pepys]

1. Madison died in 1836 n/t

....

[rwork]

2. Good find.

It is easy to start a war. Just tell your citizens they are being attacked and accuse the peacemakers of lack of patriotism.

[Benhurst]

3. Good post; but change the title to 1785 if you can. NT

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