Joseph Sabino Mistick: Four present threats to the republic

It’s a well-known story, but it bears repeating from time to time. As Ben Franklin was leaving Independence Hall in Philadelphia in 1787 after the delegates had finished writing our nation’s Constitution, he passed through the crowd that had gathered on the steps hoping to learn what kind of government had been chosen for this new nation.

“Well, Doctor, what do we have, a republic or a monarchy?” asked Elizabeth Willing Powel, the wife of Philadelphia’s mayor.

“A republic, if you can keep it,” Franklin replied.

Franklin, fully aware of the likelihood of people to make a mess of things, knew that it would take hard work for a republic to endure.

With Constitution Day celebrated Sept. 17, the death of the world’s longest serving monarch the week before and the continued threats to our republic after the attempted coup of Jan. 6, Franklin’s words are worth remembering again.

In their 2020 book “Four Threats: Recurring Crises of American Democracy,” Suzanne Mettler and Robert C. Lieberman describe American society in 1798 when “growing chaos and division” created concerns that the American experiment “might not survive the decade.”

The republic has teetered at times since then. In the 1850s, “divisions over slavery did tear the country apart,” leading to the Civil War. In the 1890s, “nearly 4 million African Americans were stripped of their voting rights.” And at various times, we have seen the dangerous expansion of presidential power.

According to Mettler and Lieberman, each crisis occurred when some combination of four specific threats were present: political polarization, conflict over who can participate in our politics, growing economic inequality and excessive executive power.

“Now,” they say, “for the first time in American history, we face all four threats at the same time.” And our best chance to guarantee the future of the republic is to embrace three pillars of American government.

“Free and fair elections” are the hallmark of any democratic government. We should have a leg up on this, because the 2020 presidential election was honest and fair even with the highest voter turnout in history. Scores of challenges were dismissed by judges appointed by both political parties, but those who continue to spread the “Big Lie” are working to undercut some of our fellow citizens’ faith in our elections.

The “Rule of Law” must be the rule — not self-serving individuals, not violent vigilantes, not hereditary monarchs, not tyrants or strongmen. All Americans must know that no one — not even a former president — is above the law.

Donald Trump recently said that if he is indicted, there would be “problems in this country the likes of which perhaps we’ve never seen before.” It would be tragic if that is the price that must be paid for preserving the rule of law, but so be it.

And we all must recognize “the legitimacy of the opposition.” We are not enemies, but we are fellow citizens. Each of us has a right to vie for support from the voters. Winners are entitled to govern, and losers have a right to try to win the next time — honestly.

Ben Franklin was properly skeptical. But this republic has endured and is still worth keeping.