Editor’s Note: The following statement was written by Daniel C. McMains ’98, McNally Family Chair of the History and Social Science Department. It does not reflect any official opinions of The Hill News or The Hill School. 

In 1787, as Benjamin Franklin was leaving the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia a woman approached him asking: “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarch?” Franklin’s response was: “A republic, madam, if you can keep it.” The task of keeping this American Republic falls to each of us to be full participants in the democratic process; respect and understand its functions; and hold all of our leaders to the high standard of perpetuating and expanding the opportunities that democracy has brought to this country. Franklin knew exactly what he was saying when he charged all future generations to be the keepers of American democracy. Inauguration Day is neither the end of one administration, nor the beginning of another, rather it is one point in the long trajectory of American history that defines who we are as a nation. From here We The People will either continue to embrace the ideals of our democracy or we will allow future leaders to corrupt our institutions and erode the principles which the nation has espoused.

Shortly after the Constitution was sent to the states for ratification, debate began over amending it to include a Bill of Rights. James Madison was initially against enumerating specific protections within the Constitution believing that such declarations would be only “parchment barriers” to “overbearing majorities”. Ultimately, Madison came to favor the Bill of Rights, and even wrote them, believing that declaring specific protections would eventually make those protections unassailable components of the nation’s identity and therefore guard against any attempt to usurp them. In large measure Madison was correct. The Freedom of Speech is part of the Bill of Rights and one can hardly think of a description of America that does not include this basic principle. Like Franklin, Madison believed that the American people would be the final arbiters of what was right for the country. In November, the American people spoke, and while there were attempts to silence that voice, Inauguration Day does demonstrate that We The People have been heard. The violence at the Capitol on January 6 was shocking, but it was not surprising. The violence was born from a lie about the legitimacy of the election. Thankfully, the violence has stopped, but the lie persists, and it falls to each of us to hold ourselves, and our elected officials, accountable to the high ideals of Whatsoever Things are True. We The People shape the “national sentiment” and we decide what is acceptable behavior from our government.

To the entire Hill Community I say that it is our task now to put on the whole armor of democracy. Too often America has not lived up to its aspirations of liberty and justice for all. I challenge everyone who is able to vote. I challenge us all to contact our representatives to ensure our voice is heard. I challenge all of us to hold this American experiment accountable for providing the full benefits of democracy to everyone. Even if you are not able to vote in America’s elections, I hope each of you will live your lives according to the principles of democracy. Freedom and equality are crucial components of that, but so too are compassion and understanding and I hope your lives, if not your countries will be governed by those ideals. Decisions are made by those who show up and I challenge all of us to show up for democracy, not just on one day, but every day, in order to defend and continue to perfect this institution of American Democracy.

Sincerely,

Mr. Daniel C. McMains ‘98

McNally Family Chair of the History and Social Science Department