As Benjamin Franklin was leaving the last session of the Constitutional Congress, a woman asked, "Well, Doctor, what have we got: a republic or a monarchy?" Franklin answered, "A republic, if you can keep it." 9. What do you think Franklin meant by his remark?

Personally, i believe that he was speaking about the lust for power some people get. For example, if the president was loved by the people, or if he had complete control over the military then he could easily have ruled as a monarch without any supervision from congress.