“The Constitution was not established by cowards and cowards will not preserve it”
“This republic was not established by cowards; and cowards will not preserve it” is a saying that has been printed in many images. American news reporter and author Elmer Davis (1890-1958) said it at a Phi Beta Kappa oration at Harvard University on June 8, 1953. The speech was reprinted in the article “Are We Worth Saving? And If So, Why?” in Harper’s Magazine in August 1953.
“THE CONSTITUTION WAS NOT ESTABLISHED BY COWARDS AND COWARDS WILL NOT PRESERVE IT” (shown on an image) was posted on Twitter by “C” on June 6, 2016.
Wikipedia: Elmer Davis
Elmer Holmes Davis (January 13, 1890 – May 18, 1958) was an American news reporter, author, the Director of the United States Office of War Information during World War II and a Peabody Award recipient.
Google Books
August 1953, Harper’s Magazine, “Are We Worth Saving? And If So, Why?” by Elmer Davis, pg. 30:
(From a Phi Beta Kappa oration by Elmer Davis at Harvard University on June 8, 1953.—ed.)
If this country ever runs out of people who don’t like being pushed around we are done for. (...) I should perhaps begun this sermon with a text, a text taken from the fourth chapter of the first book of Samuel, the eighth and ninth verses—the mutual exhortations of the Philistines before the battle of Ebenezer. “Woe unto us!” they said when they realized that the Israelites had brought the Ark of God with them to battle. “Woe unto us! Who shall deliver us out of the hands of these mighty gods?” But then realizing that nobody else was going to deliver them, they said to one another, “Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, ... and fight.” And they did fight, and delivered themselves. So may we, but only if we quit ourselves like men. This republic was not established by cowards; and cowards will not preserve it.
9 August 1953, Washington (DC) Post, “Magazine Rack” by Orval Hopkins, pg. 5B, col. 4:
MORE ABOUT LIBERTY in Harper’s, where Elmer Davis proclaims that if we are not to become a community where denunciation takes the place of evidence and orthodoxy chokes freedom of dissent, “the friends of freedom will have to stand up and fight.” This republic, he reminds us, “was not established by cowards; and cowards will not preserve it.”
Reddit—Libertarian
Posted by u/democracy101 June 6, 2009
“The Republic was not established by cowards; and cowards will not preserve it.” - Elmer Davis
nolanchart.com/articl…
Twitter
C
@SportyGirlC
The Constitution was not established by cowards! Vote for America! Vote for Constitution! #NeverHillary #NeverBernie
(The following text is shown on an image.—ed.)
THE
CONSTITUTION
WAS NOT ESTABLISHED BY COWARDS
AND COWARDS WILL
NOT PRESERVE IT
11:46 AM · Jun 6, 2016·Twitter for Android
Twitter
SEGA L’éveilleur®
@segalink
The constitution was not Established by Cowards and Cowards will not Preserve it.
4:13 AM · Dec 5, 2016·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Augustus McCrae
@LDTEX
The Constitution was not Established by Cowards and Cowards will not Preserve it. #MAGA #MASA
(The following text is shown on an image.—ed.)
THE
CONSTITUTION
WAS NOT ESTABLISHED BY COWARDS
AND COWARDS WILL
NOT PRESERVE IT
5:12 AM · Mar 20, 2017·Twitter for Android
Twitter
Jeffro
@Olehabanos
The Constitution was not established by Cowards and Cowards will not Preserve it
11:43 AM · Feb 28, 2018·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
MLCotturo
@MLCotturo
Elmer Davis once said, “This country was not established by cowards; and cowards will not preserve it.” Stand up for the rights of Americans who want to hear all the evidence and witnesses in the Trump Trial. Do your duty under the US Constitution.
2:02 PM · Jan 31, 2020·Twitter for iPad
Twitter
Andrew C 1776 ™️
@Sheckyi
⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️
THE CONSTITUTION
was not established by cowards…
(The following text is shown on an image.—ed.)
THE
CONSTITUTION
WAS NOT ESTABLISHED BY COWARDS
AND COWARDS WILL
NOT PRESERVE IT
9:57 AM · Apr 5, 2022·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
AMERICAN BADASS 🇺🇲
@SWFLPatriot
(The following text is shown on an image.—ed.)
THE
CONSTITUTION
WAS NOT ESTABLISHED BY COWARDS
AND COWARDS WILL
NOT PRESERVE IT
1:11 PM · Jul 18, 2022·Twitter for Android