FOUR PILLARS OF REPUBLICANISM: Essays On the Foundational Principles Of Our Republic and Its Preservation

By Christopher A. Hollrah

This book is an exploration of four of the principles that serve as the cornerstones of modern liberal republicanism. The modern republic that functions on the democratic process owes its origins to the political philosophers and activists of the Age of Enlightenment and Reason. To them we owe a debt we can never repay, but the very idea of a liberal republic is constantly under attack from the varied forces of totalitarianism on a global scale. If we are to keep the freedoms, rights, and liberties we now enjoy, and if this American republic is to not only survive, but thrive beyond the foreseeable future, we must see the constant attacks which our form of government bears, and combat them as a single society.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9798823010474

Christopher A. Hollrah

Christopher Hollrah is an author who lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Education from the University of Oklahoma. He writes regularly on American politics and society for the blog site “overwhelmingweirdness.com” to which he posts essays and short fiction. He also maintains a YouTube channel, Artlife Enterprises, to which he posts both humorous and serious videos on American society and politics. As he tells those who inquire; “I think about politics twenty-five hours a day.” He is also the author of of the fictional book of horror “The Memoirs of Your Humble Servant.”

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© 2023 Christopher A. Hollrah. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 06/29/2023

ISBN: 979-8-8230-1039-9 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-8230-1047-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023911297

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Dedication

Introduction

Freedom of Conscience

Secularism

Presumption of Innocence before the Law

The Rule of Law

Postscript

DEDICATION

This book has several dedications

First, it is dedicated to every person, anywhere, in the past, present, or future who has, is, or will struggle and fight to defend the system of open and democratic republics everywhere. Millions of people have laid down their lives to help preserve and propel this form of government that functions on the democratic process, and to all of you, we owe a debt of gratitude that we can never repay. At this writing, the courageous people of Ukraine deserve our support in any manner possible. They, more than almost any other nation on this planet, are on the front lines of humanity’s fight against dictatorship.

Second, it is dedicated to the forces of dictatorship, fascism, racism, white supremacy, and general hatred in the world. Know now that the good and earnest people of this world, and in the United States in particular, will never allow you to succeed. Your continuing and fruitless efforts to destroy this and all other republics that function on an open democratic process, helped create the need for this book.

Third, it is dedicated to my father, who lived a life of intellectual vibrance, but who, in his later years, drifted into conservative extremism, which was warped and fed by his addiction to fox news (lower case intentional), which then took him, so easily it seemed, into the clutches of trumpism. This tragedy also created the need for this book.

Fourth, to all of those who have family and friends we love or have loved, but who have watched these people lose their way under the never-ending stream of right-wing media propaganda, do not despair. Remember, that fear is easy, but courage, which seems so difficult at times, is the one gift given to us against which the forces of darkness in this worlds have no defense. Have courage and remember these words: All it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing. Small acts by many people will ensure that the forces of freedom will win.

Oh, yeah, and Jeff.

INTRODUCTION

This book contains four essays on what I feel are some of the most important philosophical principles which serve as foundations of the form of government that we, as Americans, along with billions of other people on this planet are privileged to enjoy: republicanism. It is important to specify that I am not just speaking about any nation-state that has the word republic in its official title. This is not a delineator of republicanism.

Examples such as the People’s Republic of China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or the Islamic Republic of Iran will alert any reader to the fact that incorporating the word republic into the name of your state means nothing. In fact, if you look around the world, I think you will find it is common practice for dictatorships of all kinds—religious, civil, or military—to use the word republic in their official state name.

When I use the terms republic or republicanism, I am speaking of a republic that functions on the democratic process, in which elections are open and transparent, in which participation—either as a candidate for office or merely a voter—is free to all citizens, and in which the process and results are fairly contested. This is where the difference lies between a dictatorship that abuses the term republic and a true republic that honors it.

The essays that appear in this manuscript are, in order of appearance: Freedom of conscience, secularism, presumption of innocence before the law, and the rule of law. This is, by no means, an exhaustive list