Excellence in Philadelphia circa 1776

In the late spring and early summer of 1776 a college of elite civic leaders were gathered in Philadelphia to somehow solve the problems they were having with their government. The problem mostly centered on the mercantile economic system. England used the natural resources for cheap supplies to feed its growing industry. Also, those colonies were expected to buy the finished products after manufacturing.

Mixed in with the planters, printers, and pirates at the Congress were middle class entrepreneurs who chafed at the restrictions on their own industrial development. The American colonies had to find a way around the mercantile noose being tightened by the thousands of regular and mercenary British troops on station. The American elites felt that as displaced Englishmen that their rights must be honored beyond those given to the indigenous people of the African and Asian colonies. From this debate a Community of three Excellent men rose up and induced a Revolution.

A printer who loved to dabble with science and politics joined with a lawyer feverishly dedicated to an uncompromising definition of justice to implement the deep philosophical principles of government from the ‘kid’ planter. Franklin, Adams, and Jefferson banded together into a Community of Excellence and applied all the requisite components to instigate the military, political, social, and economic reforms that grew into the United States of America.

The first component is Security: the commitment that all are in this together. “We must hang together,” Said Franklin, “for if we don’t we will assuredly hang separately.” The Congress responded by unanimously adopting their Declaration of Independence from the mercantile abuses of England. The sentiment ‘we are all in this together’ has never shone brighter nor mattered more.

The second element is Courage: the commitment to doing the right thing no matter how hard. No nation had ever followed this process to their freedom before. But that Congress understood that they had to declare and win the right to govern themselves because it was their God-given right. Even if they had to overcome the efforts of the greatest military power on Earth to get there.

Third comes Justice: everybody gets what they earn. Laws and taxes were being imposed on Americans by Englishmen who were warm, safe, and cozy in London and totally ignoring all input from the Americans. Taxation without Representation.

Next is Tolerance: everybody is allowed to contribute their best on their own terms and on their own schedule. Franklin was a schmoozer. Adams a loud, arrogant, pompous ass. Jefferson a quiet, nerdy intellectual. Yet they overcame their tense lack of friendship and worked together to get the Declaration done. Jefferson and Adams did later become close but in 1776 they hardly knew each other. Both were never comfortable with Franklin’s irreverent and ribald lifestyle.

Finally comes Celebration: the showcase of the Community’s togetherness. This does not necessarily mean a party. It does, however, mean some event or gathering that shows the unity of the members. Typically when people gather there is food and drink involved. There are records showing extensive consumption of rum by the Second Continental Congress and I would be amazed if someone didn’t offer a toast once the fifty-sixth signature was entered on the bottom of the document. But look no further than those signatures as documentation of a Celebration acknowledging the unity of purpose to overcome dire political, economic, social, and military problems.

It is a constant that someone refers to the Founding Fathers for guidance in times of turmoil. Now, in 2009, we would do well, perhaps no better, than to find wisdom in the efforts of the diverse collection of patriots to look beyond self-centered, greedy desires and get done what needed to be done.