"The multitude of those who err is no protection for error."172

"Pure democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention." 173

On first examination it does not seem that a Republic in itself is beneficial to freedom or a particularly benign form of government, that is if you used The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or The Peoples Republic of China as your model and yardstick for the measurement of individual freedom in a Republic.

America seems to becoming a more restrictive society with less and less individual freedoms. "Those who already walk submissively say there is no need for alarm. But submissiveness is not our heritage. The first Amendment was designed to allow rebellion to remain as our heritage. The Constitution was designed to keep government off the backs of the people... The aim was to allow men to be free and independent and to assert their rights against government... The America once extolled as the voice of liberty heard around the world no longer is cast in the image which Jefferson and Madison designed, but more in the Russian image..."174

There is a distinct difference between a Democracy and a Republic. Although a republic may use a democratic vote to choose its representatives, who exercise a specified and restricted authority, the sovereignty rest in the hands, heart and head of the individual constituent. A Democracy on the other hand is a pooling of rights of all sorts which are vested in the majority who rule collectively or through their leaders who are elected. The Democracies power to regulate, tax and dominate may be limited by a contract or constitution, but the constitution may be expanded in scope by a larger consensus of the voters.

A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.175

The original American colonies were Republics. (see REPUBLIC vs. DEMOCRACY).

"Government is not sovereignty. Government is the machinery or expedient for expressing the will of the sovereign power... "176

In the beginning we were called a republic today the United States is called a federal democracy, "democracy" being mob rule and "federal" from the French word for feudal. But has the seat of the authority of government changed. Are we still a republic? The Declaration of Independence only made American republics independent from that limited authority remaining in the hands of the king, do to our charters and his usurpation. It was the king who revolted against the law of the contract, the charters, by the attempted "usurpation" "to seize a use" not justly his. He was not unlike the pharaoh of old who tried, on the shores of the Red Sea, to unlawfully, though unsuccessfully, withdraw consent already given to those God fearing Israelites preparing to serve the LORD.

In the story "A Tale of two Alamos"177 Hutton refers to "Travis' line in the dust" as "that sublime moment of democratic choice." As the story goes William Barret Travis gave his men a choice of leaving or staying to fight a "hopeless" battle. All the men stayed but one Louis Rose who climbed the wall and escaped to tell the story and open a meat market in Nacogdochea. When asked why he didn't stay his reply was "By God, I wasn't ready to die."

If he had been given a democratic choice he would have been compelled to stay by the will of the mob. It would have been both a sublime act of democracy and his last. Fortunately, it was a sublime moment of Individual choice in the Republic of Texas that allowed Rose to live.

So, a democracy is a kind of common purse of rights. Even though the democracy may exist within a Republic it may grant duties and privileges that may be legally incumbent upon its members. In a democracy the president may not be titular and the State may not be separate from its government. One would be more likely to be electing their leaders rather than mere representatives.

Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. (Proverbs 1:14,16)

The Constitution of the United States was simply an agreement between individual governments which were only republics with little dominion or authority over the people. It was generally an unpopular agreement and had it been important enough to be put to a vote it would have never been past.

"If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering, but if we neglect its instruction and authority, No man can tell how soon a catastrophe may overcome us, and bury all our glory in profound obscurity."178

Citizenship of or in government as a person, as opposed to Natural Citizenship as an inhabitant, is a privilege granted or denied and regulated by a government created according to the rules established by that government. If an individual wishes to join and become a person in a legal society and be governed by the rules of that society's government then he is legally bound to abide by the rules of that created society. (see CITIZEN vs. Citizen)

"Some scholars regard the ancient confederation of Hebrew tribes that endured in Palestine from the 15th century BC until a monarchy was established about 1020 BC as an embryonic republic. That would make the ancient Israelite commonwealth the earliest republic in history and one of the oldest democracies; except for slaves and women, all members of the community had a voice in the selection of their administrators and were eligible for political office."179

"If we will not be governed by God, then we will be ruled by tyrants."180

If the powers that would be are to blame for our ascent into a subjective citizenship then we would not be truly subject, for there would be no consent. But the con-artist succeeds not because of his own larceny but because of the larceny in the heart of those he has tempted and deceived.

And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: (II Peter 2,2-3)

"The people never give up their liberties except under some dilution."181

"When statesmen forsake their consciences for what they consider the public good, they lead the country down the short road to chaos."182

"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachment of those powers than by violent and sudden usurpations."183

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour's. (Exodus 20:17)

If you want the government to pay for something or provide something that you should obtain for yourself then you want your neighbor to pay for that thing or provide that thing. The more you want your neighbor to fulfill your desires the more it is that you covet your neighbors goods and things.

Entering into the democracy is a free will choice. Look at the benefits and advantages. But is it a good idea? Is it wise? Is it right?

"He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance... For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally, the Forms of our Governments:"184

The Republic was a place of individual responsibility.

The United States Federal Government is a corporate entity or society which makes it a person. A monarch is, "a single or sole ruler of a state... a person or a thing that suppresses others of the same kind."185

Can a democracy take the place of a king and who should be king?

The "Reform of the Federal Judiciary in 1937 was an attempt to make democracy king in America."186

"We must realize that today's Establishment is the new George III. Whether it will continue to adhere to his tactics, we do not know. If it does, the redress, honored in tradition, is also revolution... the truth is that the vast bureaucracy now runs this country, irrespective of what party is in power."187

"Where, Say Some, is the king of America? I'll tell you, Friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the royal brute of Great Britain. Yet that we may not appear to be defective even in earthly honours, let a day be solemnly set apart for proclaiming the charter; let it be brought forth placed on divine law, the Word of God; let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America the law is king. For as in absolute governments the king is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king; and there ought to be no other. But lest any ill use should afterwards arise, let the crown at the conclusion of the ceremony be demolished, and scattered among the People whose right it is." 188

The word federal comes from the French word "federal" which comes from the Latin foedus, foederis a noun meaning, treaty, league; compact. To give you an idea of the true meaning of foedus when it is used as an adjective it means foul, hideous, revolting; vile, disgraceful. Feudal also comes from the medieval Latin word foedum. Feudalism was a system where a lord held title to the land and the vassals and serfs lived on it. The vassal owed service and fealty to his lord. (see LAW vs. LEGAL)

"As long as we look to government to solve our problems we will always suffer tyranny."189

"...a dangerous ambition more often lurks behind the specious mask of zeal for the rights of the people than under the forbidding appearance of zeal for the firmness and efficiency of government. History will teach us that the former has been found a much more certain road to the introduction of despotism than the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people; commencing demagogues, and ending tyrants."190

Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go. As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, Saying to a stock, Thou [art] my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned [their] back unto me, and not [their] face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us. But where [are] thy gods [rulers] that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for [according to] the number of thy cities are thy gods [rulers], O Judah. Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD. In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion. O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee? (Jer.2:25,31)

In a democracy the people are collectively the master, the ruler. It does not have to be so but it is the tempatation of man's vanity that inclines him to disregarg the will of his Creator and become the ruler of his brothers.

"His vanity swelled him so vile and rank That he could hear no voices but his own..."191

Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay but rather division. (Luke 12:51)

Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods [rulers]. But now, after that ye have known God [Ruler], or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? (Galatians 4:8,9)

In the Old Testament the word `elohiym is the Hebrew word that is translated into the English word God or gods. The word actually means ruler, judge.192 This meaning makes more sense when we remember there was no ruler over the Israelites but God Himself until the people begged for a king and Samuel anointed Saul.193

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; [And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Col 2:13, 15)

Thou shalt not bow down to their gods [rulers], nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images. (Ex 23:24)

With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them: (2Ki 17:35)

Thou shalt not follow a multitude to [do] evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest [judgment]: (Exodus 23:2)

FOOT NOTES

Return 172 Multitudo errantium non parit errori patroeinium. 11Coke, 73.
Return 173 James Madison.
Return 174 (Speech)___v. Tatum, 408 US 1, 28-9, J. Douglas.
Return 175 Thomas Jefferson.
Return 176 Cherokee Nation v. Southern Kans.. R. Co., 33 F. 900, 908-13 (1888).
Return 177 SMU Mustang's Spring 1986 alumni magazine. Story by Paul Andrew Hutton.
Return 178 Daniel Webster
Return 179 "Republic," Microsoft r Encarta. c 1994 Ms. Corp. and Funk & Wagnall's Corp.
Return 180 William Penn.
Return 181 Edmund Burke 1784 Speech.
Return 182 Sir Thomas Moore.
Return 183 James Madison.
Return 184 Declaration of Independence.
Return 185 Webster's New Dictionary unabridged 2nd Ed. 1965.
Return 186 Document of American History by Commager
Return 187 William O. Douglas (page 95, page 54).
Return 188 Thomas Paine's Common Sense.
Return 189 William Pitt.
Return 190 Alexander Hamiltion, I Federalist Papers.
Return 191 Beowulf v910... v1055.v1685-1695. 1:110v. Burton Raffel.
Return 192 Strong's No. 0430 `elohiym {el-o-heem'} plural of 433 defined rulers, judges
Return 193 1 Samuel 10:1.
END OF FOOTNOTES

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