Reliable Basis for Sound Government Fidebla Fundamento por Bona Guvernistaro
& Just Human Relations is Natural Law. - Justa Homa Relatajo+ estas Natura Lejo
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Most modern Americans have never studied Pley-multa moderna Amerikano~ neniam
Natural Law.They are therefore mystified studis Natura Lejon. Zi estas tial
by the constant reference to Natural Law mistera per la konstanta direktajo+
by the founding Fathers. W. Blackstone al Natura Lejo per la unza Patro+.
confirmed the wisdom of the Founders by W_Blackstone* konfirmis la sajecon
stating that it is the only reliable de la unza Patro+ per diri ke ji estas
basis for a stable society & system of la sola fidebla fundamento por balanca
of justice. Then what is Natural Law? societo kaw sistemo de justeco. Tiam,
... kio estas Natura Lejo? Bona loko
A good place to seek out the answer is serchi la respondo estas en la skribo+
in the writings of one of the American de unz de la Amerikano~ unza Patro+
Founders' favorite authors, Marcus preferata awtoro, Marcus_Cicero* de
Cicero of ancient Rome. antikva Rome~.
The Life and Writings of Cicero. La Vivo kaw Skribo+ de Cicero*.
It was Cicero who cut sharply through Ji estis Cicero* kii tranchis akre
the political astigmatism and tru la politika malbona_vido+ kaw
philosophical errors of both Plato and filozofia eraro de ambawe Plato* kaw
Aristotle to discover the touchstone Aristotle* eltrovi la tusho_shtonon
for good laws, sound government, and por bona lejo+, balanca guvernistaro,
the long-range formula for happy human kaw la longa-terma operacio por felica
relations. In the Founders' roster of homa relatajo+. En la unza Patro+
great political thinkers, Cicero was listo de granda politika pensanto,
high on the list. Cicero* estis alta sur tia listo.
Out of Cicero's maelstrom of turbulent Ekstere Cicero* ventego de malfacila
experience with power politics, plus his sperto+ kun potenca politiko, kaw lia
intense study of all forms of political intensa studo de tuta formo+ de
systems, he wrote his landmark books on politika sistemo+, li skribis lia fama
the Republic & the Law in 50bc. In these libron+ pir La Respubliko kaw La Lejo
writings Cicero projected the grandeur en -50. En ci_tia skribanto+, Cicero*
& promise of some future society based projektis la grandecon kaw promeson de
on Natural Law. ia hodawa societo uzanta Natura Lejo.
The American founding Fathers obviously La Amerikano~ unza Patro+ klare
shared a profound appreciation of havis forta estimajon de
Cicero's dream because they envisioned Cicero* sonjo tial zi vizi'igis
just such a commonwealth of prosperity precize tia komuna_richajon de richeco
and justice for themselves and their kaw justeco por mem_zi kaw zia
posterity. They saw Cicero's writings id'aro. Zi vidis Cicero* skribon+
as the necessary ingredients for their kiel la necesa materialo por zia
model society which they eventually modela societo kii zi malfrue
hoped to build. esperis konstrui.
Cicero's compelling honesty led him to Cicero* direkta honesto gvidis lin
conclude that once the reality of an konkludi ke unzfoye la realeco de
Intelligent Designer of this world is Inteligenta_Desegn'ulo de ci_tia mondo
clearly identified in one's mind, the klare identifi'ijas en via menso, la
only intelligent approach to government, sola inteligenta alproksimijo al
justice, & human relations is in terms guvernistaro, justeco, kaw homa relatio
of the laws which this Eternal God has estas en termo+ de la lejo kii ci_tia
already established. The Eternal's Eterna Dio yame establis. La Etern'ula
order of things is called Natural Law. ordo de afero+ vok'ijas Natura Lejon.
A fundamental presupposition of Natural Fundamenta principo de Natura Lejo
Law is that man's reasoning power is a estas ke homa racia potenco estas
special dispensation of the Eternal & speciala donaco el la Etern'ulo kaw
is closely akin to the rational or estas proksime sama al la pensa aw
reasoning power of our Designer himself racia potenco de nia Desegn'ulo mem_li.
In other words, man shares with the En alia vorto+, homo dividas kun la
Eternal this quality of utilizing a Etern'ulo ci_tia kvaliton de uzi
rational approach to solving problems, racia metodo+ solvi problemo+,
and the reasoning of the mind will kaw la racianto de la menso
generally lead to common-sence jenerale gvidos al komuna-senta
conclusions based on what Jefferson konkludo bazata sur kio ke Jefferson*
called 'the laws of Nature and of vokis 'the lejo+ de Naturo kaw
Nature's God'. de Natura Dio'.
Cicero stated concepts which were Cicero* parolis ideon+ kii ripet'ijis
repeated by the American Founders a per la Amerikano~ unza Patro+ por
thousand times. The Law of Nature or kiloz tempo+. La Lejo de Naturo aw
Nature's God is timeless in its basic Natura Dio estas ciam en jia baza
goodness; it is universal in its boneco; ji estas universala en jia
application. It is a code of `right aplikajo. Ji estas kodo de `prava
reason' from the Designer himself. It racio' el la Desegn'ulo mem_li. Ji
cannot be altered. It cannot be povas ne shanj'iji. Ji povas ne
repealed. It cannot be abandoned by halt'iji. Ji povas ne for'lasiji
legislators or the people themselves, per guvernistaro aw la popolo mem_zi,
even though they may pretend to do so. eche kvanke zi eble_povos pretendi
In Natural Law we are dealing with fari jin. En Natura Lejo ni vidas
factors of absolute reality. It is viron de absoluta realeco. Ji estas
basic in its principle, comprehensible baza en jia principo+, komprenebla
to the human mind, and totally correct al la homa menso, kaw komplete korekta
and morally right in its general kaw morale prava en jia jenerala
operation. operacio.
The Divine Gift of Reason La Dia Donaco de Racio
To Cicero it was an obvious remarkable Al Cicero* ji estis videble rimarkebla
thing that man had been endowed with a afero ke homo don'ijas kun
rich quality of mind that doesn't exist richa kvalito de menso ke ne ekzistas
among other forms of life except in the int alia formo+ de vivo escepte en la
most miniscule proportions. Between pley-malgranda parto. Int homo kaw
man and other creatures there is a alia besto+ ekzistas granda spaco kie
gigantic gap as far as mental processes mensa procedo+ koncern'ijas. Cicero*
are concerned. Cicero as well as the kiel bone kiel la unza Patro+
Founders viewed this as special divine opini'igis ci_tion kiel Dio_donaco
endowment from the Eternal.Cicero said speciala el la Eternulo. Cicero* diris:
The animal which we call man, endowed La besto kii ni vokas homon, don'ijas
with foresight and quick intelligence, kun ant'vido kaw rapida inteligenteco,
complex, keen; possessing memory, full malsimpla, scianta; posedanta memoro,
of reason and prudence, has been given plena de racio kaw saj'eco, don'ijas
a certain distinguished status by the certa honora situacion per la
Eternal God who created him, for he is Eterna Dio kii kreis lin, por li estas
the only one among so many different la sola unz int tiel multa malsama
kinds and varieties of living beings speco+ kaw diverseco+ de viva besto+
who has a share in reason and thought, kii havas pre'parton en racio kaw
while all the rest are deprived of it. penso, dum tuta la restajo ne havas
But what is more divine,I will not say jin. Sed kio estas ple-Dia, mi ne diros
in man only, but in all heaven & earth, en homo sole, sed en tuta chielo kaw
than reason? And reason, when it is tero, ol racio? Kaw racio, kiam ji
full grown and perfected, is rightly estas plen'kreskata kaw perfekta,
called wisdom. korekte vok'ijas saj'econ.
Therefore, since there is nothing Tial, depost ekzistas nenio ple-bona
better than reason, and since it exist ol racio, kaw depost ji ekzistas
both in man and God, the first common ambawe en homo kaw Dio, la unza komuna
possession of man and God is reason. posedajo de homo kaw Dio estas racio.
But those who have reason in common Sed zi kii havas racion en komuna
must also have right-reason in common. devas ankawe havi korekta racion en
And since right-reason IS Law, we must komuna. Kaw depost korekta racio ESTAS
believe that men have Law also in Lejo, ni devas kredi ke homo+ havas
common with their gods. Further, those Lejon ankawe en komuna kun zia Dio.
... Ple-multe, zi kii dividas Lejon
who share Law must also share Justice; devas ankawe dividi Justecon; kaw zi
and those who share these are to be kii dividi ci_tion povas rigard'iji
regarded as members of the same kiel ano+ de la sama komuna_richajo.
commonwealth. If indeed they obey the Se vere zi obeas la sama awtoritaton
same authorities and powers, this is kaw potencon, ci_tio estas vera en
true in a far greater degree; but as a pley-granda grado; sed fakte zi certe
matter of fact they do obey this obeas ci_tia chiela sistemon, la Dia
celestual system, the divine mind, & menson, kaw nia Dio de tuta potenco.
our God of transcendent power. Hence Tial, ni devas nune pensas de ci_tia
we must now conceive of this whole kompleta universo kiel unz
universe as one commonwealth of which komuna_richajo de kii ambawe dio+
both gods and men are members. kaw homo+ estas ano+.
No prophet of the Old Testament or the Ne Pastro de la Malnova Testamento aw
Gospel teachers of the New Testament la Biblia instruisto de la Nova
ever said it any better. Testamento ciam diris jin ia ple-bona.
The First Great Commandment La Unza Granda Ordon'ajo
Cicero comprehended the magnificence Cicero* komprenis la grandecon de la
of the first great commandment to love, unza granda ordonajo de ami, respekti,
respect, and obey the all-wise Designer kaw obei la tuta-saja Desegn'ulo de
of this world. He put this precept in ci_tia mondo. Li metis ci_tia ideon
proper perspective by saying that Gods en propra mezuro per diri ke Dia
law is `right reason'. When perfectly lejo estas `prava racio'. Kiam perfekte
understood it is called `wisdom'. When kompren'ijas, ji vok'ijas sajeco. Kiam
applied by government in regulating aplikas per guvernistaro reguligi
human relations it is called `justice' homo relation+, ji vok'ijas `justeco'.
When people unite together in covenant Kiam popolo unzigas kune en kontrakto
or compact under this law, they become aw konsento sub ci_tia lejo, zi ijas
a true `commonwealth', and since they vera `komuna_richajo', kaw depost zi
intend to administer their affairs intencas administri zia aferon+ sub
under God's law, they belong to His Dia lejo, zi apartenas al Lia
commonwealth. komuna_richajo.
So to Cicero, the glue which holds a Tiel al Cicero*, la gluo kii tenas
body of human beings together in the korpon de homo+ kune en la
commonwealth of a just society is love: komuna_richajo de justa societo estas
--love of God; love of God's great law amo: -- amo de Dio; amo de Dia granda
of Justice; and love of one's fellow lejo de Justeco; kaw amo de oia kunula
humans which provides the desire to homo kii provizas la deziron
promote true justice among mankind. favori vera justeco int homaro.
Cicero's Conclusion Konkludajo de Cicero*
It was clear to Cicero as he came Ji estis klara al Cicero* kiel li
toward the close of his life that men venis al la fino de lia vivo ke homo+
must eliminate the depravity that had devas for'igi la malbona penson ke
lodged itself in society. He felt they eniris societo. Li sentis ke zi devas
must return to the high road of Natural reveni al la alta voyo de Natura
Law. They must pledge obedience to the Lejo. Zi devas juri obeon al la
mandates of a loving and concerned direkto de amanta kaw koncerna
Eternal. What promise of unprecedented Etern'ulo. Kio promeso de kompleta
grandeur awaited that future society grandeco atendis tia morgawa societo
which would undertake it! He wrote: kii farus jin! Li skribis:
As one and the same Nature supports Kiel unz kaw la samo, Naturo subtenas
and holds together the universe, all kaw tenas kune la universon, tuto
of whose parts function in harmony de kiia parto+ funkcias en paco
with one another, so men are united in kun ii alia, tiel homo+ unzijas en
Nature; but because of their depravity Naturo; sed tial zia erara penso+,
they quarrel, not realizing that they zi batalas, ne realigi ke zi
are of one blood and subject to one estas de unz sango kaw subjekt'ijas
and the same protecting power. If this al unz kaw la sama protekta potenco.
fact were understood, surely men would Se ci_tia fakto kompren'ijis, certe
live the life of the gods! homo+ vivus la vivon de la dio+ !
The American Founders believed this. La Amerikano~ 1a Patro+ kredis ci_tion
They embraced the obvious necessity of Zi akceptis la komprena necesajon de
building a highly moral and virtuous konstrui pleymulte morala kaw virta
society. The founders wanted to lift societo. La unza Patro+ deziris levi
mankind from the common depravity and homaron el la komuna malbona pensanto
chicanery of past civilizations, & to kaw ag'anto de malnova civilado+, kaw
lay the foundation for a new kind of kushigas la fundamenton por nova speco
civilization built on freedom for the de civilajo konstruata sur libereco
individual & prosperity for the whole por la individuo kaw richajo por la
commonwealth. This is why they built kompleta komuna_richajo. Ci_tio estas
their system on Natural Law. kial zi konstruis zia sistemon sur
Natura Lejo.
Examples of Natural Law. Ekzemplo+ de Natura Lejo.
It may be surprising, even to Americans Ji eble_povos surpriz'iji, eche al
to discover how much their Constitution Amerikano~ eltrovas kioma ke zia
and their life-style is based on Konstitucio kaw zia viva stilo estas
principles of Natural Law. For example: bazata sur principo+ de Natura Lejo.
Por ekzemplo:
The concept of UNALIENABLE RIGHTS is La ideo de Dio-dona RAYTO+ estas
based on Natural Law. bazata sur Natura Lejo.
The concept of UNALIENABLE DUTIES is La ideo de Dio-dona DEVO+ estas
based on Natural Law. bazata sur Natura Lejo.
The concept of HABEAS CORPUS is La ideo de HABEAS_CORPUS^ estas
based on Natural Law. bazata sur Natura Lejo.
The concept of LIMITED GOVERNMENT is La ideo de LIMIGA GUVERNISTARO estas
based on Natural Law. bazata sur Natura Lejo.
The concept of SAPARATION OF POWERS is La ideo de PART'IGI de POTENCO+
based on Natural Law. estas bazata sur Natura Lejo.
The concept of CHECKS AND BALANCES to La ideo de CHEKO+ kaw BALANCO+
correct abuses by peaceful means is korekt'igi misuzon+ per paca metodo
based on Natural Law. estas bazata sur Natura Lejo.
The right of SELF-PRESERVATION is La rayto de MEM_PROTEKTO estas
based on Natural Law. bazata sur Natura Lejo.
The right to CONTRACT is La rayto fari KONTRAKTO estas
based on Natural Law. bazata sur Natura Lejo.
Laws protecting the FAMILY & MARRIAGE Lejo+ protekti la FAMILIO kaw EDZIJO
are based on Natural Law. estas bazata sur Natura Lejo.
The concept of JUSTICE BY REPARATION, La ideo de JUSTECO per por'pagi
pay for damages based on Natural Law. difekto+ estas bazata sur Natura Lejo.
The right to BEAR ARMS is La rayto DEFENDI kun PAFILO+ estas
based on Natural Law. bazata sur Natura Lejo.
NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION is Ne IMPOSTO sen REPREZENTAJO estas
based on Natural Law. bazata sur Natura Lejo.
These few examples will illustrate how Ci_tia kelka ekzemplo+ montros kioma
extensivly the entire constitutional la tuta konstitucia sistemon de Ameriko~
system of America is ground in Natural estas bazata en Natura Lejo. Fakte,
Law. In fact, Natural Law is the Natura Lejo estas la fundamento kaw
foundation and encompassing framework ...
for everything we have come to call cir'ira kadro por cio ke ni nune
`People's Law'. vokas `Popola Lejo'.
This is precisely what Thomas Jefferson Ci_tio estas precize kio T_Jefferson*
was talking about when he wrote in the cir'parolis kiam li skribis en la
Declaration of Independence: US~ Deklaro de Sen'dependo:
We hold these truths to be self-evident Ni tenas ci_tia veron+ esti mem_sciebla
that all citizens are created equal ke tuta civitano+ kre'ijas egala
under law, that they are endowed by the sub lejo, ke zi don'ijas per la
Eternal with certain unalienable rights Eternulo kun certa dio-dona rayto+,
--that among these are Life, Liberty, ke int ci_tia rayto+ estas Libereco,
and the Pursuit of Happyness.' Vivo, kaw la Sekvajo de Feliceco.
A Free People can't Survive Libera Popolo povas ne Sen'cesi
unless they are Moral escepte SE zi estas Morala
Modern Americans have long forgotten Moderna Amerikano~ longe forgesis la
the heated & sometimes violent debates varmega kaw iam perforta diskutadon+
which took place in the 13 colonies kii okazis en la 13 kolonio+
between 1775 and 1776 over the issue int 1775 kaw 1776 pir la ideo
of morality. For many thousands of de moraleco. Por multa kiloz de
Americans the big question of Amerikano~, la granda demando de
independence hung precariously on the sen'dependo pendis danjere sur la
single, slender thread of whether or sola, maldika fadeno de Se aw
not the people were sufficiently `moral Ne la popolo estis sufica `morala
and virtuous' to govern themselves. kaw virta' guverni mem_zi.
Self-government was generally referred Mem_guvernistaro jenerale direkt'ijis
to as `republicanism', and it was kiel `Respublikismo', kaw ji
universally acknowledged that a corrupt universale konsent'ijis ke sen'leja
and selfish people could never make the kaw egoista popolo povis neniam fari la
principles of republicanism operate principon+ de respublikismo funkcii
successfully. As Franklin wrote: sukcese. Kiel Ben_Franklin* skribis:
`Only a virtuous people are capable of `Sole virta popolo estas kapabla de
freedom. As nations become corrupt & libereco. Kiel nacio+ ijas sen'leja
vicious, they have more need of masters kaw malbona, zi havas ple-multa
bezonon de mastro.
George Washington later praised the George_Washington* malfrue lawdis la
American Constitution as the `palladium Amerikano~ Konstitucion kiel la `Ora
of human rights', but pointed out that normo de homa rayto+', sed eks'montris
it could survive only `so long as their ke ji povis ekzisti sole `tiel longa
shall remain any Public Virtue in the kiel zia restis ia Publika Virton
body of the people'. en la korpo de la popolo'.
What is `Public Virtue'? Kio estas `Publika Virto' ?
Morality is identified with the Ten Moraleco identifi'ijas kun la 10
Commandments and obedience to the Ordonajo+ kaw obeajo al la Etern'ula
Eternal's mandate for `right conduct', ordono por `prava konduto', sed la
but the early Americans identified frua Amerikano~ identifiis `publika
`public virtue' as a very special virto' kiel tre speciala kvalito de
quality of human maturity in character homa maturo en karaktero kaw servado
and service closely akin to the Golden preskawe kiel la `Ora Regulo'. Kiel
Rule. As a modern historian viewed it: moderna histor'ulo opiniis jin:
In a Republic, however, each man must En Respubliko, tamene, ciia homo devas
somehow be persuaded to submerge his iel konvink'ijas malleviji lia persona
personal wants into the greater good deziron+ en la ple-granda bono de
of the whole. This willingness of the la grupo. Ci_tia volonteco de la
individual to sacrifice his private individuo oferi lia privata
interest for the good of the community intereso+ por la bono de la vilajo
--such patriotism or love of country --tia publika helpo aw amo de lando
(world) -18th century people termed as (mondo), 18a centyara popolo vokis
public virtue. The eighteenth century publika virton. La 18a centyara
mind was thoroughly convinced that a menso tute kredis ke popole
popularly based government `cannot be bazata guvernistaro `povas ne
supported without virtue'. subten'iji sen virto'.
The Lessons of History La Leciono+ de Historio
Of course, as Thomas Jefferson said: Sed kiel Thomas_Jefferson* diris:
`Virtue is not hereditary'. `Virto estas ne heredita'.
Virtue has to be earned, and it has Virto devas gayn'iji, kaw ji
to be learned. Neither is virtue a devas lern'iji. Nek estas virto
permanent quality in human nature. It konstanta kvalito en homa naturo.
has to be cultivated continually and Ji devas kres'iji sencese kaw
exercised from hour to hour & from day ekzerc'ijas el horo al horo, el tago
to day. The Founders looked to home, al tago. La unza Patro+ al'rigardas
the school, and the churches to fuel la heymon, la lerneyon, kaw la prejeyon
the fires of virtue from generation to fari la fayro+ de virto el id'aro
generation. al id'aro.
John Adams pointed out why the future John_Adams* parolis kial la morgawo
of the United States (and the world) de la Unziga Stato+ (kaw la mondo)
depended on the level of virtue and dependis sur la nivelo de virto kaw
morality maintained among the people. moraleco konservata int la popolo.
He said: Li diris:
Our Constitution was made for a moral Nia Konstitucio far'ijis por morala
and religious people. It is wholly kaw religia popolo. Ji estas komplete
inadequate to the government of any senutila al la guvernistaro de ia
other. alia popolo.
Alexis de Tocqueville, a young French Alexis_de_Tocqueville*, yuna FR~
philosopher of the 19th century, came filozofisto de la 19a centyaro, venis
to US shores to discover what magical al the US~ eltrovi kia magika
quality enabled a handful of people to kvaliton permesis eta grupo de popolo
defeat mighty European armies that had venki forta EU~ militistaro ke batalis
been sent against her. He looked for kontrawe si. Li por'rigardis la
the greatness of America in her grandecon de Ameriko en sia fruktodona
fertile soil, her limitless forest and tero, sia sen'limiga arbaro+ kaw
natural resources. He examined America natura provizo+. Li vidis Ameriko~
schools, her Congress, and her unique lerneyon+, sia Kongreson, kaw sia
Constitution without understanding speciala Konstitucion sen kompreni
fully the source of America's strength. komplete la origino de Ameriko~ potenco
It was not, he said later, until he Ji estis ne, li diris malfrue, jis li
went to the churches of America and iris al la prejeyo+ de Ameriko~ kaw
found congregations `aflame with trovis prejeya popolo `enflamata kun
righteousness' that he began to prav'eco ke li komencis kompreni
comprehend the secret of this power. la sekreton de ci_tia potenco.
Upon his return to France, Tocqueville Sur lia reveno al FR~, Tocqueville*
wrote: `America is great because skribis: `Ameriko~ estas grandega tial
America is good, and if America ever Ameriko~ estas bona, sed SE Ameriko~
ceases to be good, America will cease ciam haltas esti bona, Ameriko~ haltos
to be great.' esti grandega.'