Remembering That Governments Do Not Make Ideals, But Ideals Make Governments

On July 4, Americans celebrate our Declaration of Independence, which was just as truly a striking declaration of liberty, new in the world.

The Declaration of Independence was the result of the seasoned and deliberate thought of the dominant portion of the people of the colonies in no sense a radical movement but resistance to illegal usurpations to maintain their constitutional rights which from time immemorial had been guaranteed to them under the law of the land.

The Declaration of Independence had a much broader and deeper significance than a mere secession of territory and the establishment of a new nation because it was proposed to establish a nation on new principles.

Placing every man on a plane where no one possessed any right to rule over him, he must inevitably choose his own rulers through a system of self-government such doctrines would scarcely have been permitted to flourish and spread in any other country the Declaration of Independence was profoundly American.

The Declaration of Independence is a great spiritual document Equality, liberty, popular sovereignty, the rights of man are ideals We cannot continue to enjoy the result if we neglect and abandon the cause.

Governments do not make ideals, but ideals make governments The people have to bear their own responsibilities.

All men are created equal they are endowed with inalienable rights governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions.
 

https://issuesinsights.com/2021/07/02/remembering-that-governments-do-not-make-ideals-but-ideals-make-governments/