Benjamin Nones Quotes
I am a republican! … I have not been so proud or so prejudiced as to renounce the cause for which I have fought as an American throughout the whole of the Revolutionary War… I am a Jew, and if for no other reason, for the reason that I am a republican… In republics we have rights. In monarchies we live but to experience wrongs….How then can a Jew but be a republican?
In the election of 1800, the Jeffersonian republicans were pitted against the John Adams Federalists. The latter had seen the revolution as against the excesses of England and King George and not necessarily against the notion of a class society where government served the interests of the upper class—a political battle that is still with us to some extent. The Jewish religion generally recognizes no right of theocratic authority of one man over others with all to follow the laws of God, was theologically very republican. Rabbis were teachers and had no theological or civil authority. To Nones and many other Jews the Jeffersonian ideals were very close to their religious and cultural tradition and to the extent that there has been a party of the classes and a party of the masses, most Jews had gravitated to the latter with the exception of merchants, bankers and others whose economic interests were with the right of center party.
Benjamin Nones, 1757-1826, Revolutionary War Major, Philadelphia Notary Public & Jeffersonian Party Activist, Response to an attack on him by the Federalist Philadelphia newspaper, The Gazette, August, Philadelphia Aurora, August 11, 1800
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De Tocqueville was generally concerned about what he saw as an inherent conflict between freedom and equality. Efforts to produce equality can lead in some cases to impingements on some freedoms or rights. Unlimited free rights can produce inequality and a de facto autocracy. Even in modern times America is struggling to find a proper balance.
This quotation is a great demonstration of how much wiser and the better politician of all the crowned heads of Europe that Queen Victoria was. There were stirrings of freedom and desire for parliamentary government throughout Europe. Queen Victoria, even though and perhaps because she was a young woman, had a great feel for fairness and reasonableness and had read a great deal of history. There were some radical red socialists calling for complete radical revolution scaring European Royalty profoundly. They reacted very conservatively and with reaction, reverting to more tyrannical practices of the past urged in that path by very conservative, right wing advisors. Victoria also had little respect for some of the monarchs who had little interest in their people and much with their personal power and wealth. In the end, it was England which was the only nation which never had a serious radical socialist / communist threat, and that had much to do with Victoria’s political acumen and wisdom.
Cochrane became the Admiral in Chief of 2 Different South American Nations—Peru and Brazil—fighting for their independence. Incredibly enough, he was able to form idealistic freedom fighters with no naval experience into navies which defeated both the Spanish and Portuguese fleets at a time when those countries had world class navies. His achievements on behalf of the South Americans are often regarded as the most remarkable naval achievements in history.
While France was in the midst of a violent revolution, the American debate was on the power and prestige of the Presidency. Then Vice President John Adams was a proponent of a strong executive. Most others were not.
The French Revolution was out of control and terribly bloody. Most Americans and even English who supported the principles and reasons for the French revolution ceased their support because of the Reign of Terror. Jefferson, however, saw a link between France and American democracy and was reluctant to end support.
The revolutionists were disorganized and unfocused after the Coup that brought them to power. This speech provided some focus for a while. Early in his career, as a Journalist working in Leiden, Holland, he was very active and helpful to the Dutch Patriots and Revolutionaries in their takeover of the government. He helped draft the New Dutch Constitution and participated in most of the new governments conventions.
