RELIGION or POLITICS ??? Platform for a Constitutional Government. cont'd,

Happy monday to all,  Friday I completed the Platform for a Constitutional Government, which as you were informed was originated by Hillsdale College at Hillsdale, MI., and also the Publisher of their monthly newsletter, IMPRIMIS. The college stems back to 1844, and their core curriculum is is based around theri Articles of Association which commits them to two things. The first is "sound learning" of the liberal arts, and the second is the reading of the Declaration of Independence, following its arguments and  research from old books in history.

     Hillsdale is devoted in the first sentence of its Articles of Association to the principles of "civil and religious liberty".  These principles are America's gift to the world.   We are all of us products of that gift.   We are not sons of dukes and earls -- or of czars.   We are Americans because of this gift.   And signs are lately that Americans do not much want to give it up.   This is a very hopeful thing.

     Hilsdale College has always taught the Constitution and has always fought for it.   Our teaching of it is intense, difficult, challenging.   As for fighting, we are famous in modern times for a decade-long lawsuit against the federal government, and for the fact that we refuse to take money from the government.  It is expensive these days, indeed increasingly so, for a college not to take federal money.   But we believe that the price of taking it is dearer still.

     No one should think, however, that in refusing money from the modern bureaucratic of government that exists in this city today, we have forgotten our loyalty to the constitutional form that flourished here for so long.

     There is only one way to return to living under the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the institutions of the Constitution.    We must come to love those things again.   And if we love them, then we serve them.   But we cannot love them until we understand them until we know them.   So the first step is to study them and teach them, and Hillsdale College comes to Washington meaning to do that.    We aim to create an atmosphere in this city of the study and knowledge and understanding and love of the principles of America.

And so be it, my friends. If you aren't in love with this country and willing to fight to keep it as it was conceived, then I'd say, get out and stay out, and the sooner the better.      See y'all.   Cheers   CJ