The John Adams Society

Gregory F.E.C Wersal

Chairman

Melvin R. Welch

Secretary

G. Larry Colson Jr.

Chief Whip

Josh Regnier

Chancellor

FEBRUARY 2012

Greece to herself doth a barbarian grow, others could not, she doth herself overthrow.

~Plutarch, Lives.

Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.

~Vince Lombardi

HISTORY IS REPLETE with occasions of victory, whose triumphant lost their lives and their countrymen’s freedom, leaving in its detritus-strewn wake those who must rebuild. Principle must triumph, or be submerged to the deluge of endless revolutions, grasping for power and not purpose. Difficult decisions are upon us, and we are made to question our destiny. Do we pursue a futile victory, merely to return the reigns of power to our decrepit and spiritually-divested leaders; or, cognizant that victory replaces one master with another of its ilk, do we acknowledge defeat and allow the decline unabated, holding faith that principled leadership will shine where practiced and put untruths to flight?

Principles: the immutable truths Law must follow or, weeping, as did Ugolino hunched over his prostrate child, devour. It is vogue to attack that principled papyrus of promise, whose executors scoff at its ethereal fabric and whose supreme magistrates countenance tyrannies against its miserly assurances of liberty. Yet, virtuous adherence to its admonitions raises governments out of debt and dependents from despondency. Michigan is again in the black and Wisconsin’s freedom repels the frothy snarls of the pack, enheartening those cynics and skeptics anew.

ON THE OTHER HAND, if winning’s purpose is only to transfer power from one partisan to another for the same use, ought it to be to our partisans, who yet hold custom, faith and destiny dear? If will is to assert its dominance yet again, should not those hands, reluctant but ready, be the ones to grasp the wheel? When liberty is assured only to those who rule, are we not obligated to pave the way for us and ours? Is not our cardinal directive to protect that universally unique gift from God – life, and assure its protection through victory, be it by force or fraud?

THE CHAIRMAN, playing five-card stud with 3-sided dice, has called a debate to settle the question.

RESOLVED: Winning Is Not Everything.

The Debate will be held on Wednesday February 15, 2011, at the University Club, 420 Summit Avenue, in Saint Paul. The Chancellor will preside over drinks beginning at seven o’clock p.m. The debate will begin at half past seven. There is no dress code, however gentlemen who wish to speak must wear a tie; ladies are encourage to adhere to a similar sartorial standard. For those gentlemen arriving sans tie yet wishing to discourse on the resolution, the Purveyor of Ties will keep on hand several remarkable selections. Questions regarding debate caucus procedures of about the John Adams Society itself may be directed to the Chairman at (612) 701-9623 or the Secretary at (612) 220-7586.