Thursday, July 4, 2013

Who deserves praise for the success of the American Revolution?

Happy 4th of July!  As we celebrate this national holiday here in the US, who do we have to thank for our freedom and independence?  Of course, the men and women of our armed forces, who have defended the American Cause from the colonial era to the present day deserve thanks.  And the Founders deserve our gratitude.  And the ranks of the ordinary citizens who have worked and built our country deserve thanks as well.  And beyond them and us, Someone else deserves praise, as the Father of Our Country emphasized towards the end of the Revolution:
If my endeavours to avert the evil, with which this country was threatened, by a deliberate plan of Tyranny, should be crowned with the success that is wished; the praise is due to the Grand Architect of the Universe who did not see fit to Suffer his Superstructures, and justice, to be subjected to the ambition of the princes of this World, or to the rod of oppression, in the hands of any power upon Earth.  
- Letter to Watson & Cassoul, Aug. 10, 1782, taken from The Founders on Religion: A Book of Quotations, edited by James H. Hutson (Princeton: 2005), pg. 18.

Amen to that, Mr. Washington. Amen to that.

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