-Rep. Ron Paul, speaking in Congress on May 26th, 2011
In case you missed Rep. Ron Paul’s May 26th “Last Nail” speech, you can read the whole thing here.
Claims about American decline are, well, as old as America. President Nixon, making this same point in a 1971 speech, cited an entry in the diary of James Allen, a resident of Philadelphia. In 1775, as the struggle for independence from the British Empire was beginning, Allen wrote that “many thinking people believe America has seen its best days, and even if we be victorious, peace and order will with difficulty be restored. The inconveniences are already sensibly felt. Debts as yet are paid, but this cannot last long, for people begin to plead their inability.”
Under the leadership of the immortal Washington, the Continental Army soldiered on, however, and not only were peace and order restored, but the great cause of American independence was victorious.
If those who talked about American decline in the 1970s reminded President Nixon of James Allen’s diary, some parts of Rep. Paul’s speech got me thinking about the great anti-imperialist Republican orators of the late 19th century.
Perhaps the strongest was Carl Schurz, a Civil War general and former senator who feared that US military internvetion in the Philippines during in the Spanish-American War would lead to the Republic adopting the worst aspects of European-style (particularly British) empire building.
Schurz himself took to the podium many times to talk along the same lines as Ron Paul. His speeches are the intellectual/verbal equivalent of hand-to-hand combat with the empire builders of his day. (It must be pointed out that anyone who would appoint himself Schurz’ anti-imperialist successor today would be advised to be careful in reading over his old speeches – many, but not all, of Schurz’ arguments, would work well with contemporary audiences.)
Judging from the tone of his speeches, Schurz never doubted that the Republic could be saved from the threatening trends that energized him into action – nor did he lose his optimism that the American people could be roused in time to a defense of their true national interests.
Before he talks again about “last nails,” Ron Paul needs to capture some of that Schurz-ian optimism, and put it into his speeches (along with an idea of what positive measures can be taken to restore the Republic to economic health – especially the US manufacturing sector.). And he can leave the dramatic “last nails” theme to unknown, junior members of Congress who need it to get people to listen to them.
