"A Republic if you can keep it" said Benjamin Franklin

A prophetic editorial echo worth an encore in this blog by Maine Writer. Published in The Seattle Times in April 2022, but the intentions of this opinion essay (below) continue to be relevant to our democracy.

Prelude: After the violent events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, one year ago today, Senator Amy Klobuchar and other federal legislators reminded us that we have “a republic,” but only “if you can keep it.” The source of this quotation is a journal kept by James McHenry (1753-1816) while he was a Maryland delegate to the Constitutional Convention. On the page where McHenry records the events of the last day of the convention, September 18, 1787, he wrote: “A lady asked Dr. Franklin Well Doctor what have we got a republic or a monarchy – A republic replied the Doctor if you can keep it.” Then McHenry added: “The Lady here alluded to was Mrs. Powel of Philada.” The journal is at the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress.

Congress must stop efforts to defraud democracy.

By The Seattle Times editorial board

A violent mob (motivated by the former guy #tfg #djt) invaded the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, spurred on by false claims of a stolen election. The invaders were incensed that Vice President Mike Pence refused to exploit ambiguities in the process of certifying Electoral College results — flaws in the law that could have plunged America into chaos.

A group of senators led by Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., have taken the first step in what must continue to be a bipartisan quest to protect the will of the voter. They introduced the Electoral Count Reform Act to help prevent future schemes to defraud democracy.

Former President Donald Trump’s efforts to remain in office were successfully thwarted after the 2020 election, but there is no guarantee that he — or one of his followers — would not try again. If anything, the possibility is growing as his acolytes continue to vie for positions of power, including overseeing elections.

Legislation, which had gathered enough GOP support to bypass a filibuster, would clarify aspects of the Electoral Count Act of 1887, removing the vagueness that Trump and his cohorts tried to exploit.

The bill would affirm that the vice president’s role in the electoral count is only ministerial and make it harder for members of Congress to object to a state’s electors. Currently, all it takes is one member in the House and one in the Senate for an objection to proceed, a requirement that would increase to at least one-fifth of the members in each chamber, under the proposal.

Additionally, the bill intended to thwart attempts by rogue state legislatures to submit different electors by giving governors conclusive authority to certify their state’s electoral slate. However, it also allows for candidates to petition for judicial review in cases of legitimate controversy.

Philadelphia, 1787. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention are just leaving Independence Hall, having decided on the general structure for the new United States. A crowd had gathered on the steps of Independence Hall, eager to hear the news. A sturdy old woman (sometimes referred to as “an anxious lady”), wearing a shawl, approached Benjamin Franklin and asked him, “well, Doctor, what do we have, a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin replied sagely, “a republic, if you can keep it.”


The Senate should pay attention to election experts who have pointed out the importance is implementing enhanced safeguards against the unfortunately plausible scenario of election-denying governors and state legislative majorities.

Fixing the Electoral Count Act is a critical component of ensuring election integrity, but it is far from the final word. As pointed out by the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan public policy institute, the law applies only to presidential races and doesn’t address broader national threats, including intimidation of election workers and efforts to manipulate the vote counting process.

The Senate should pass legislation such as the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would restore and update the 1965, Voting Rights Act protections that were gutted by the U.S. Supreme Court, including prohibiting race-based discrimination in voting. Republican leadership blocked debate on the bill last year, with only Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, voting to advance discussion.

Congress is on the right track with the Electoral Count Reform Act, but the bipartisan momentum must reach further if the U.S. is to ensure that the events of January 6 weren’t a dress rehearsal.

The Seattle Times editorial board members are editorial page editor Kate Riley, Frank A. Blethen, Melissa Davis, Alex Fryer, Claudia Rowe, Carlton Winfrey and William K. Blethen (emeritus).