1812?

Deus, in adjutorium meum intende.  Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina.
O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me.

   So what's-his-name said on Fox News Sunday that the Republican National Convention reminded him of black and white TV, and that the Party was more like 1812 than 2012.  Well, guess what?

   Returning to 1812 wouldn't be such a bad idea.  With the quasi-war with France in 1799, the Federalist Congress, under Adams had put a large tax burden on the people to finance frigates. They penalized property ownership.  Actually, taxation had started three rebellions since the end of the Revolutionary War!

   Anyway, in1800, the Republicans (anti-federalist, anti- centralized government) elected Jefferson. While he didn't return to the strict Whig anti-federalism, he swung the government in that direction. He called for a return to strict construction interpretation of the Constitution, state power, economy in government, payment of the national debt, " freedom of religion , press, and person."  The Republican Congress built a treasury department which would be funded only by customs duties and land sales. The budget was cut in half and the Treasury began to pay off the national debt.

   Between 1800 and 1808 the Federalist Party began to die. However, the Republicans' ideals began to become diluted, and nationalism crept in. James Monroe challenged James Madison for the presidency, leading a group of Republicans called the "Quids." Quids is an old English term for opposition leaders.  They were fighting, again, too much governmental debt, bureaucracy and a Federalist judiciary. The "Tea Party" candidates might be the "Quids" of today.

   What happened then is a mirror-image, almost, of our political times.  The "establishment" Republicans managed to get Madison elected. However, Madison did replace federalist judges, balanced bugets and continued to pay off the national debt. Let's hope that Romney, if elected, can do as well as Madison.

   The march toward more liberal policies was helped by moderates, who, like today, too easily compromise their principles and "go along to get along, " to the detriment of us all.

   I don't think I mind considering myself back in the black and white TV era, when families could sit down together to watch family-oriented programs without worrying about what the children were
seeing.  There is barely a show today that I would waste my time watching. Sorry! I could really get carried away with what I think of today's TV.

   And 1812?  I think the Republicans miss a bet if they don't counter the stupid reference to the era with what is actually exactly what thinking Americans are trying to do today.


There are a few good history books from which you can glean the above information. One that I pulled off my shelf  is A PATRIOT'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, by Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen.  It is 825 pages of information and 73 pages of bibliographical notes. Both authors are professors of history.