The Peril of the Republic of the United States of America - Percy T. Magan

early days, knew and appreciated. Hence, they
worshiped the virtues. They built temples, and
offered sacrifices “to the highest human
excellences,’ to ‘Valor,’ to ‘Truth’ to ‘Good Faith,’
to ‘Modesty,’ to ‘Charity’ to ‘Concord.’” Hence it
was that they said to every man: “You do not live
for yourself. If you live for yourself, you shall
come to nothing. Be brave, be just, be pure, be true
in word and deed; care not for your enjoyment,
care not for your life; care only for what is right.
So, and not otherwise, it shall be well with you. So
the Maker of you has ordered, whom you will
disobey at your peril.”[1] These words give at least
a strong intimation of how even the people of that
“elder day” regarded popular government as being
an experiment on the heart. When once the heart is
unchained and personal or national ambition is
allowed to have full sway, then freedom’s rule is at
an end. “Arbitrary power is most easily established
on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.”[2]
From being a republic, Rome was converted
into a military empire. The cause of this conversion
is of remarkable interest to the people of the United
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