Jefferson Davis Quotes


I will admit no bond that holds me to a party a day longer than I agree to its principles


Citations

Jefferson Davis, 1808-1889, U. S. Congressman & U. S. Senator (Democrat, MS), U. S. Secretary of War, President, Confederate States of America, Reply in the Senate to a speech of Senator Stephen Douglas, May 1860

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Related Quotes

The loyalty and sometimes hypocrisy that is often called for by political parties tends to be offensive to people of serious thought and intellect. However, America has developed two major political parties which while from time to time tend to lock-step obedience, over time tolerate wide diversity and there are few areas in which there can be a party loyalty test. In nations where there are many parties each can be very well-defined and narrow, while if essentially only two, they must have broad tents in order to win. Thinkers are more comfortable in that kind of party.


The logical conclusion of the Jeffersonian approach was perhaps best reached by H. L. Mencken: {607257}. This quotation is often used incorrectly to show that Jefferson opposed political parties. While he did in 1789, he changed his position after observing America develop. See {51500} for Jefferson’s later view.


The Party line at the time was that any reform of the democratic institutions of America would simply delay the complete revolution. Let things get worse and then act; don’t try and fix them.


Every sect of Russian communism had an offshoot in America and in other countries as well. When bad blood broke out between sects in Russia, the battle spread to the rest of the world as when Leon Trotsky was assassinated by Stalinists in Mexico and the Trotskyites were viciously and physically attacked here in America. In many cases there was little ideological difference but the split reflected different leadership styles and personalities. Despite Frank’s warning, American communism was a mirror reflection of Russia until Stalin negotiated the WWII pact with Hitler, when anti-Stalin Communists began to be active, and because America was a more open society, American communists were ahead of their Russian comrades in denouncing Stalinism.


Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
  • Born: June 3, 1808
  • Died: December 6, 1889
  • Nationality: American
  • Profession: Leader

Jefferson Finis Davis was an American politician who served as the president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865. As a member of the Democratic Party, he represented Mississippi in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives before the American Civil War. He previously served as the United States Secretary of War from 1853 to 1857 under President Franklin Pierce.