Summer was hot in Philadelphia in 1787, and delegates to the Constitutional Convention were cloistered in the Pennsylvania State House since May. “Cloistered” is the right word, since the doors and windows were closed to give the convention privacy as they worked. Designing a new country is hot, sweaty work, and it must have smelled like a locker room behind those doors.
Opinion
This was the delegates’ second attempt at forming our new government. For their first try a few years prior, they designed a confederacy under the Articles of Confederation, and that didn’t work worth a damn. By September 1787, they had drafted our Constitution — a governing document new to the history of man — and stepped out into the Philly sunshine for a breath of fresh air.
As Benjamin Franklin stretched his legs and looked around for the nearest place to grab a beer, a socialite, Elizabeth Willing Powel, stopped him to ask, Doctor, what sort of government have you given us?
Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”
Let’s break Franklin’s answer down. By “a republic,” he meant that the convention produced less of a thing than a process. Not a static consolidation of power as in a monarchy, but a dynamic experiment that puts power in the hands of the citizens. We live in this experiment today.
By “if you can keep it,” Franklin warned that the notion of self-government would be merely an elusive, fleeting ideal if the citizens didn’t shoulder their own burden to keep it alive. Absent that willingness of the citizens to actively participate in their own government, there are forces aplenty watching and waiting for their chance to take over. A republic is a very demanding form of government. Republics die from inattention.
As we approach the 250th anniversary of our independence from the British monarchy, we should take stock of how well we American citizens have heeded Franklin’s cautionary “if you can keep it.” And I’ll submit that the steps we need to take to keep our republic haven’t changed in 250 years.
The first necessary step is to avoid mythologizing our republic. It is neither a myth nor an ideal; it is hard work. Treat it as such.
Then vote! Year in, year out, 40% of us don’t even take that elementary step. That fact makes our republic a fraction of what it can be. It is hypocritical of us to deport people who want to vote, when nearly half of us don’t take our responsibility to vote seriously.
To keep our republic, we must be both a tolerant and an intolerant nation. We must tolerate different ways of looking at things, because that is the essence of democracy. Tolerance of dissent is difficult, but our Founders, in their wisdom, didn’t want to make things too easy for us.
We must be equally intolerant of anyone or anything that wants to return us to some sort of authoritarian, monarchical rule, just because things often get messy in our republic. And by “authoritarian” I mean both political and religious authoritarianism. Just as we don’t need a king, we don’t need our republic changed into a church, synagogue or mosque. The rule of law, not of kings nor clerics, as Franklin et al intended it, works just fine for a governing principle.
We’ll have a helluva time keeping our republic if we don’t keep our eye on the prize and do the most important work first. So we need to avoid getting distracted by halftime shows, the books that our neighbors are reading, what others do in their own bedrooms and similar distractions that compete for our attention. Remember, republics die from inattention. Pay attention to our republic if you want to keep it.
Selfish citizens cannot keep a republic. To covet universal rights, and to deny, for any reason, the same rights to others that you enjoy, will kill a republic. It kills not only the republic, but the reason behind it. If we want to keep our republic, be generous with the rights it bestows.
Finally, and I think Franklin would particularly agree with this step — keeping a republic demands a healthy sense of humor and irony. People in the act of trying to govern themselves are often funny and plagued with pratfalls and false steps. A republic, viewed in that sense, is like a comedy sketch, and if you can’t laugh at yourself from time to time, you are taking yourself too seriously.
We keep our republic through individual acts of citizenship that add up to reveal our national character. If we, all of us, take Franklin’s admonition seriously, we’ll prove ourselves worthy of a form of self-government that 250 years ago made despots tremble with fear.
Thank you for the clarity, light and forethought, as usual, in your writing. I’ve revisited Thomas Paine’s (Franklin’s cohort) writings (“Common Sense” and “The Age of Reason”) which very much fit hand in glove with Franklin’s thinking and appear in relevance in your opinion piece in my opinion.
So very well said! My hog school Civics teacher applauds you, as do I!
Once again, I greatly appreciate your thoughts. Growing up in Wyoming I didn’t pay enough attention to politics. Now, after a few short years I still don’t know much but have seen what it tends to do with things that people don’t care as much about. I’ve literally become a bit of a student of our system and have a lot to learn. I will just say that our current direction is worrisome.
This is a well written and fair piece that should be framed and read each year – it gores no one’s contemporary oxen in the process of warning us all of the stakes involved and the delicacy of what we perhaps take for granted.
Having lived as a worker or student on visas in other countries both in the Americas and in Europe, I was keenly aware that I was a guest in foreign cultures and my stay was dependent largely on the degree I kept out of trouble with the local official and de facto authorities. In those places there wasn’t the same latitude of tolerance for people who ‘didn’t read the room’ so to speak. Private property, rule of law, the presumption of innocence, free speech… in many places those things simply can’t be assumed to govern. I vividly remember watching a uniformed police officer shake down a motorist for a bribe in downtown Mexico City in the 1990s. In El Salvador, it really mattered who you were with when coming to a police (or were they highwaymen?) check point.
My years abroad led me to a conviction that for all our tendency to berate ourselves and our counter-party Americans as just the worst people (“on stolen land” as though everyone else on earth haven’t built their empires on land formerly occupied by other peoples)… we are absolutely blessed to be here, in this place, with this form of government and culture. I’ve seen what “worse” looks like and if you can believe it… our current intra-party squabbles are no where close to being as bad as things can and do ‘get’ elsewhere.
As an historian, I’ve always believed that Franklin’s answer: “A Republic if you can keep it.”; was a foreboding reference to what he knew would be the impending Revolutionary War. He was 69 years old in 1775 and the oldest delegate at the Continental Congress. Having just returned from an extended stay in London, where he tried diplomatically to prevent a split between the colonies and England, he was tired and distraught, for his wife had died during the long absence. Though he was appointed to a group tasked with writing the Declaration of Independence and helped Jefferson (32) edit the first draft, it was said he was unusually quiet and dozed off during the remaining proceedings. However, it was his intelligent diplomatic effort that followed in France and continued throughout the war, by which he contributed the most to the birth of our new nation. In fact, had he not been deployed to such endeavors, without French support, Washington would not have turned the tide of the war at Yorktown. The surrender of Cornwallis and his 8,000 men could not have been realized without the assistance of an equal number of French troops fighting alongside ours and an ironclad blockade by French ships. That decisive strategic help, propped up with monies appropriated by the French Ambassador through Franklin’s grace and patience, which earlier financed “materiel de guerre”, was what made the critical difference. Without his persistent statesmanship in France, the United States of America, would not have won it’s War of Independence, nor kept it’s Republic. For those reasons, I’ve always felt Benjamin Franklin was an historic equal to George Washington, as far as winning the war. He voluntarily gave the last good years of his existence to help ensure the success of a revolution he inevitably foresaw and worked unsuccessfully to avoid for decades prior.
“Year in, year out, 40% of us don’t even take that elementary step. That fact makes our republic a fraction of what it can be. It is hypocritical of us to deport people who want to vote, when nearly half of us don’t take our responsibility to vote seriously.”
This point stands out to me as one of the most significant. If we cannot be bothered to take our responsibility to this tenuous republic seriously enough to even cast our votes, then we cannot expect—and will not get—serious results.
For example: we may be reduced to standing on street corners in inflatable frog suits in an effort to oppose the deployment of the United States military against our own citizenry.
Yes and the “if you can keep it ” really rings loud these days cuz there are forces out there bent on change to totally eliminate are citizen based government !
“A republic if you can keep it.” Franklin should have said, “we have given you the idea of a republic if you can prefect it.”
Our founding fathers only gave the right to vote to roughly six percent of the population: wealthy, landed white men. Starting out our experiment in republican governance with such restrictions on voting rights has made it very hard for succeeding generations to believe all people have a right to vote. This has been proven by our country’s abysmal record assuring every person has a vote. The idea of voter restriction is still being played out as we speak.
Our country has held on to the “idea” of a republic for this long because the power has been in the hands of those who were designated the gate keepers to begin with.
Now that the white majority is inching closer to the break even point the need for a more authoritarian government is rising among those coveting their power. There is a sizable portion of the voting public who want authoritarian rule; both political and religious. Not much different than the old Rhodesian and South African governments during apartheid.
I guess I don’t see much humor in this other than the utter buffoonery of so called civilized adults acting like they know what they are doing.
Our “republic” is in a most precarious position.
Dave Gustason
Its a Republic If You Can Keep It
M Anderson 06-19-2025
copyright 2025
What I truly intend to convey is:
When Benjamin Franklin stated on the last day of the Constitutional convention, on September 18, 1787:
” Its a Republic, If You can keep it”
It wasn’t simply a statement of those times, but an eternal challenge to future generations of American Patriots to stand up, defend, and preserve this Republic against all enemies, foreign and domestic for future generations.
It is no hollow challenge.
Being a Son of The American Revolution and a Son of The Roughriders, I have but one option at the table of life.
Stand up and expose subterfuge and tyranny and roast it upon the empirical fires of Revolutionary grit to be worthy in eyes of those whom before me, took the burden of battle for freedom and liberty for our and future generations, and most importantly, His Holy name.
For that should be and is the past, present, and future character of what’s called being American.
Our dedication to service is our response to that challenge.
I agree with Mr. Sharp. Mr. Miller’s opinion pieces are heartening because he doesn’t avoid the hard truths and because he always comes up with insights beyond “the other side are a bunch of Jerks.”
Thank you for calling out both political and religious authoritarianism. I see certain groups using politics to advance their authoritarian religious views, to bring government overreach deep into our personal lives in order to enforce their particular cherry-picked interpretation of an ancient text that many reasonable people view as largely fictional. A Taliban-style government in the name of Christianity would be equally repressive, and goes against both the spirit and the text of the Constitution and the founding principles of our republic.
“Finally, and I think Franklin would particularly agree with this step — keeping a republic demands a healthy sense of humor and irony.”
Thank you, Mr. Miller. Excellent point. A sense of humor and irony contribute to humility, which allows us to listen and work together. Unfortunately, it seems to be in short supply at the moment. I’d be happy to vote for a reincarnation of this Ben Franklin guy.
All that I can add is, well done Rod, well done. When you mentioned a healthy sense of humor Al Simpson was the first to come to mind. Right now we need a lot more Al Simpsons and Rod Millers.
I always look forward to Rod Miller’s articles. This one is a real keeper.
Meanwhile, the rugged individualist Wyoming voter doesn’t vote and they are allowing the freedumb caucus to form a theocracy. The country is led by a fascist fake christian that has NO clue what the bible says. Carry on.
Central Banks and Standing Armies are a guaranteed destroyer of Republics.
The USA has had both for 110+ and 80 years respectively.
The root of Americas decline lies in these 2 institutions. Both watch as Americans squabble with each other over distracting political theatrics, meanwhile the 2 continue to expand and enrich via destruction of the middle class/poverty expansion, and death, destruction, suffering around the globe.
Americans can’t seem to figure out who the real enemy of our Republic is when they look and point at each other as the nations collapses.
The real enemy is the voter, or the non voter might be more like it.
Money runs elections, Gordon. Politicians are beholden to their donors. “Voters” have absolutely nothing to do with it, lol.
Non voters may be the only ones with some common sense.
Why would anyone want to vote for the “choices” Americans are given these days? Wait, I know. Because the other side is worse. 🙄
Rod’s column is timely and insightful, especially as our republic faces unprecedented challenges. The very fabric that holds our nation together is being tested, with our freedoms, the rule of law, and the principle of equality under scrutiny. These fundamental pillars are under attack from within, and it’s up to us — the people — to stand up and ensure their preservation. We must raise our voices at the ballot box, in public forums, and directly with our elected officials. If we fail to act, Benjamin Franklin’s cautionary words — “if we can keep it” — may become a sobering reality.
Amen Rod,
Once you realize the difficulty and hard work it takes to keep a republic going it changes your perspective. My wife and I recently had the opportunity to attend a Natrona County Library Session titled “Get to know your Government”. It was 4 presentations of 2 hours each. MC-d by Alissa Campbell House District 57, we initially thought this a rabble rousing event complete with a serious right wing slant; surely entertainment tv style! Not so, it was divided into sessions on how your tax money is gathered and spent followed by sessions on operational challenges for city government, followed by challenges for county government, and finally state government. We both left the 4 sessions with a deep understanding of the awesome responsibility for making the republic work. Rod, you are spot on — “We’ll have a helluva time keeping our republic if we don’t keep our eye on the prize and do the most important work first.” It is hard-boring work with HUGE dividends. My hats off to all who serve, even if I don’t agree with their policies. All we need to do to change things is take that involvement step!
Dear Mr. Miller,
Thank you for writing another creative piece that helps bring to life a critical bit of our history in our American history. Recalling the physical conditions around the early forefathers of our nation piecing together how the early and growing United States would run itself did well to entice a reader like myself to continue reading through this opinion column.
Ironically, on this very day my students are scheduled to read and study the Articles of Confederation (1777). WhiIe I agree with your sentiments that all our citizens vote, I also believe every American should take a moment once a year to read through documents like the Articles of Confederation and ultimately our U.S. Constitiution. Even though the written language in these historic documents can be difficult for most people to read and decipher today, it’s important to understand how we came to have all these inherent rights and protections as a federal republic.
Again, Mr. Miller, thanks for sharing this message that we all take a vested interest in our American experiment–may we all do better to pay attention and be involved no matter all our differences, to be proud and grateful citizens of the USA.
~Ramona V.S. Bean