Below is from a letter by U S Grant to his sister:
Whatever may have been my political opinions before, I have but one sentiment now. That is, we have a Government, and laws and a flag, and they must all be sustained. There are but two parties now, traitors and patriots and I want hereafter to be ranked with the latter, and I trust, the stronger party. I do not know but you may be placed in an awkward position, and a dangerous one pecuniarily, but costs cannot now be counted. My advice would be to leave where you are if you are not safe with the views you entertain. I would never stultify my opinion for the sake of a little security.
I will say nothing about our business. Orvil and Lank will keep you posted as to that.
Write soon and direct as above.
Yours truly,
U S Grant.
In the brief letter above there is something very telling revealed about Grant, who, though I am using him as an example, is by no means unique in his example. Furthermore, my purpose is not to demean him as much as to pity him.
Why pity someone who from secular standards was extremely successful? To answer this I will point out some implications from his letter:
political opinions before
This phrase indicates that Grant's political views changed. We do not know specifically what his views were before, but we hear him state his new conviction in this letter. Whenever a person changes political views they should consider the foundation for the previous view and their new one.
one sentiment now
Grant is saying he is all-in regarding his new view. He has totally rejected his previous view. Now, if one is in error with their previous view, this is good. However, if not, there is something grossly evil at work.
we have a Government
This is a statement of fact. This fact apparently has now become the basis for his new political view.
they must be sustained
We see here that Grant has forgotten or is willingly ignoring the premise of the Declaration Of Independence which is "When, in the course of human events...". Thus, he elevated the government and its laws above the principles of liberty, freedom and the pursuit of happiness.
traitors and patriots
This phrase indicates a clarity of thought, a reduction of the complex to the simple. This is generally a good thing to do, but it places a premium on the definition of the alternatives and the legitimacy of them.
ranked with the latter
Grant has made a choice. And it is interesting that he has chosen the better sounding term. The better sounding term is the one that most people gravitate toward. But what is really meant by that term?
costs cannot now be counted
This is a high sounding sentiment. It is elevating the new view to honor and indicates a willingness to suffer loss if necessary for the new view and stance.
safe with the views, a little security
Personal security is always a major consideration in all our decisions. To sacrifice principle for personal security results in the death of that which is greatest in us.
With these general statements said, let me summarize what I understand happened to U S Grant:
→ He was a traditional American - Constitution loving and freedom loving
→ Now he has become a realist, submitting to the existing authority
→ He redefines traitor and patriot along the lines of political realities
→ He identifies himself as a patriot - submissive to the government
→ His commitment is complete - an admirable stance
→ He does not consider the costs - another admirable stance
→ He jeopardizes his security - another admirable stance
Although there are many admirable sentiments expressed in Grant's letter we cannot lose sight of the fact that his political views became practically-based rather than principle-based. As mentioned above, this shift resulted in him killing that which was most admirable in his soul.
Once he sacrificed principle for practicality he was able to justify every subsequent action based on that core action.
→ He reversed the definitions of traitor and patriot.
→ A patriot became a person committed to the government.
→ A traitor was a person committed to the Constitution.
Obviously, he wanted to be considered a patriot. As to costs and security, I believe he made a rational decision based on his expectation that the federalists would win the conflict. So, his stances were not so admirable - they were merely practical.
Just as Grant became an alcoholic to escape the torture of his sacrifice, so many people today avoid facing their shame with alcohol, drugs, entertainment and other forms of self-indulgence.
As said above, this article is not about singling out and demeaning U S Grant. Rather, it is to illustrate that corruption to a nation occurs when individuals are corrupted. We can look at NAZI Germany and see how the same process that Grant used was applied by the German people to justify themselves.
But an even more serious example of Grant's error is evident in America today. Just as Grant sacrificed the Constitution in favor of the federalist government, so have many Americans. Millions of citizens are no longer American in sentiment, they are Socialist Globalists. They have forsaken the Constitution and its principles, for expediency, for security and for short-term benefit.
There is nothing new under the sun. - Solomon .
The same self-serving, principle-abandoning forces in the broken human spirit lead man to destruction from generation to generation.
Western Civilization arose from barbarity to elevate humanity by the influence of Christianity - people who believed the principles of the Bible and conformed themselves to those principles.
The USA was formed by Christians who elevated principle above expediency. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness was the principle. The Constitution provided the framework for ensuring those principles survival.
Getting On Board seems like the thing to do, but Getting On Board the Titanic was a mistake that seemed like the thing to do at the time.
DC is now the Government. Many have sworn allegiance to DC and forsaken their allegiance to the Constitution. They can justify themselves as Grant did or they can repent and return to the godly principles which elevated mankind from self-destruction.
"My country, right or wrong" is simply wrong. It is an elevation of an entity above principle.
The whole purpose of life is for man to get on board with His Creator, Christ Jesus. Until a person is on board with Christ, they are under the influence of Satan. They are on board with the enemy of humanity.
Government was not instituted to rule over people.
Government was instituted by our Creator to serve the people by protecting their freedoms. His plan is that we recognize Him as Christ Jesus and come into relationship with Him, thereby being Free Indeed and enabled to experience Abundant Life.