The Revolution of Sober Expectations

I recently read a speech delivered by Martin Diamond entitled The Revolution of Sober Expectations. This speech was given at Independence Square, on October 24, 1973. It is an excellent speech and I would recommend the reading of it to all, especially in these times of great bipartisanship and economic turmoil.

In this speech he highlights the importance of the Declaration of Independence which was penned in 1776 which in essence began the revolution for the colonies as a whole. He also speaks on the importance of the Constitution which he argues was the second part of the revolution. He begins his oration with a quote from Lincoln that he believes highlights his own personal feelings personally. He says, “I am filled with deep emotion at finding myself standing here in the place where were collected together the wisdom, the patriotism, the devotion to principle, from which sprang the institutions under which we live.” Although his great respect and love of both of the sacred documents are important perhaps the more interesting aspect of the article comes from the title of the speech-The Revolution of Sober Expectations.

Diamond argues that for three reasons the Revolution is not as glorious as we sometimes make it out to be. The first reason is that although the Declaration of Independence and the Revolution itself did overthrow the British government, “They soberly and moderately left open the question of institution of government.” That is although they overthrew the British they did not outline what kind of government should replace it. Diamond makes himself clear however, he states that although it may seem like the Declaration of Independence and Revolutionary War may seem only like half a revolution they were, “nonetheless revolution indeed and revolution enough.”
The Second reason why Diamond believes the Revolution to be one of sober expectations is because the revolution was dedicated to the principle of liberty, an ideal that he argues is abstract and undignified. He draws on examples of what he sees as grand examples of revolutions that tried to establish utopias and equality for all. He states that civil liberty requires it followers to be constrained to, “moderation, legality, and rootedness in regular institutions.” Compared to the revolutions of Lenin and Robespierre’s which were rooted in grand ideas, but ideas that could never have been achieved. The Revolution was one of sober expectations because the founders wanted very little, compared to other revolutions, but it was because of this mindset that they were able to achieve their goals. They wanted only the “sober and moderate” goals of unalienable right sand free government.

The final reason why Diamond believes that the Revolution was a revolution of sober expectations is because of the founders approach to democracy. He believes that the founders were “cool headed and cautious,” when they accepted the new form of government. Compared to our glorious views of democracy, we often see any other form of government as tyrannical; the founders realized that there were many problems with democracy and realized its weaknesses. They tried to make it a decent form of government “even though [it was] democratic.” He also states that only a revolution that was sober could be brought to a conclusion in such a silent way (the revolution had been over for several years before the constitution was signed).

For these three reasons Martin Diamond argues that the American Revolution was one of sobriety. I would have to agree, although it was one of the most important and influential revolutions it truly was one of great soberness. It was one with out all of the glory and fanfare, but “nonetheless revolution indeed and revolution enough.”