How long will the American Republic endure? “As long as the ideas of the men who founded it continue dominant.” –James Russell Lowell

James Russell Lowell, a 19th-century American poet and diplomat, was an influential abolitionist and “Fireside Poet.” In 1845, he noted that the nation’s survival depended on upholding the Founders’ moral and philosophical principles.

Lowell’s phrase emphasizes the importance of civic virtue and unity, referenced by Benjamin Franklin’s “A republic, if you can keep it,” and John Adams’s “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.”  Alexis de Tocqueville wrote, “If America is ever destroyed, it will be destroyed from within.” Abraham Lincoln warned that any danger to the nation would arise from within, not from external sources. He stated that if destruction occurs, it will be self-inflicted: “As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time or die by suicide.”

Without shared standards, persuasion gives way to power and conflict as noted by William J. Bennett: “We must make America safe for argument again . . . Our form of government requires us to be able to argue our way to truth rather than shoot our way to silence.”

When fundamental moral principles are disregarded, society faces serious risks. A nation rooted in liberty cannot ignore Divine and natural law without consequences. Diversity of opinion and freedom of speech alone will not restore lost values or prevent moral decline. As Ronald Reagan noted, “Freedom is a fragile thing and it is never more than one generation away from extinction.” If you think about it, the evil issues permeating our culture right now are all ultimately an attack on the family to destroy the culture from within.

Criticism of America includes claims of corruption, racism, cruelty, and historical abuses. Opponents of American philosophy assert that its founding principles restrict equality of outcome which leads them to argue for political correctness over traditional values.

A significant fact facing society today was noted in 2018 by Christian researcher George Barna, who stated that Generation Z (born between 1999-2015) is the first truly “post-Christian” generation. In fact, statistics show Generation Z is twice as likely to be atheist as any previous generation. While delivering a speech in Australia, in August 2014, atheist Lawrence Krauss stated: “Change is always one generation away . . . So if we can plant the seeds of doubt in our children, religion will go away in a generation, or at least largely go away—and that’s what I think we have an obligation to do.”

Another current challenge for young people and society is understanding America’s political climate post-Civil War. While some believe slavery was an exclusively American issue, it was actually Western opposition to slavery—growing since the American Revolution—that changed moral perspectives. The Founders recognized slavery conflicted with the principle that “all men are created equal.”

During the Industrial Revolution, many American elites advocated Progressivism, arguing that the governing principles formulated in the 18^th century were outdated for modern society. They claimed truths change over time and dismissed the Declaration of Independence’s core rights—the right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and government by the will of the people.

Progressives created a new government system based on their false view of rights. Under the “living” Constitution theory, government evolves to secure changing rights instead of protecting traditional natural rights.

Codified within our founding documents, America’s Framers believed in a Creator who established clear moral laws, including loving God, others, and following the Golden Rule. From their study of history, they recognized that republics had been destroyed by convulsions and upheavals, by vice and decadence. From their study of human nature, they became acutely aware of man’s instability, self-interestedness, and selfishness, designing America’s political institutions to take these into account. As John Adams put it, “Human passions unbridled by morality and religion would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net.”

A significant challenge for national unity today, as described by Robert George, is “moral subjectivism,” which refers to the view that truth is determined primarily by individual feelings rather than faith or reason. According to George, this perspective can lead to strong moral positions based on personal belief rather than shared principles, which results in actions such as limiting others’ freedom of speech or participating in efforts to discredit people whose ideas are considered objectionable. This approach causes societal divisions, including disputes expressed through violence, academic sophistry, and the misuse of power.

Simply promoting free speech and civility will not succeed in saving our republic. As declared by James Russell Lowell, this will only occur as we re-anchor ourselves to the eternal truths embodied in our founding documents. It is my hope that as we celebrate 250 years of America’s existence that we can awaken something deep within, for it is a beautiful thing to have a country to love.  

SUMMARY

Big Idea

The endurance of the American Republic depends on upholding the founding moral and philosophical principles. Mere freedom of expression and civility are not enough; the nation’s survival requires a renewed commitment to the core values enshrined by the Founders, such as civic virtue, unity, moral standards, and respect for Divine and natural law.

Key Points

The survival of the Republic is tied to adherence to the original moral and philosophical standards set by America’s Founders, as emphasized by James Russell Lowell and echoed by Franklin, Adams, and Lincoln.

Historical figures like Tocqueville and Lincoln warned that internal moral decay, not external threats, poses the greatest danger to America.

Without shared moral standards, society risks replacing reasoned debate with conflict and power struggles, as noted by William J. Bennett.

While free expression is vital, it is insufficient to restore lost values or prevent decline without a foundation in shared morals and Divine and natural law.

America faces new challenges as younger generations, particularly Generation Z, move away from traditional religious and moral frameworks, increasing the risk of societal fragmentation.

Misunderstandings about issues like slavery and the evolution of Progressivism show the ongoing tension between founding ideals and modern re-interpretations of rights and government roles.

The rise of moral subjectivism—where personal feelings override shared truths—threatens unity and fosters division and intolerance.

To ensure the Republic’s future, Americans must reconnect with the enduring truths embedded in the founding documents and cultivate a renewed sense of national love and responsibility.