History
Continues To Repeat Itself
JUN 3, 2023
ROLLAND KIDDER
I know that most believe that we are living through one
of the most contentious periods in American history. Yet, after recently
re-reading David McCullough’s biography on John Adams, I was again reminded of
how acrimonious politics has been throughout our nation’s history.
Adams, as we know, was one of the founding fathers and
was elected as our second President in 1796. Though a rather “low-key” kind of guy, he was constantly vilified by his opponents, and was
actively opposed even by his own Vice President, Thomas Jefferson. On his last
day in office, one newspaper reveled in his departure, hoping that once he
returned to his home in Braintree, Massachusetts “Mrs. Adams may wash his befuddled brain clear.”
The acrimony in our politics had begun even earlier
during George Washington’s second term. The revered Washington had come to be
referred by some as the “American Caesar,” and
Thomas Paine had called him a “hypocrite in public life.” Washington, tired of criticism and wearied of politics, decided not
to seek a third term. In his view, the developing “party system” of politics was not good for the country.
After becoming President, Adams, a Federalist, soon
faced opponents even within his own party from men like Alexander Hamilton who
wanted him to be tougher, support Britain and go to war with France. Adams,
however, believed the young nation needed to stay out of war, and so he
eventually concluded a treaty of peace with France. Old “friends” like Jefferson even accused him wanting to make the Presidency into
a monarchy akin to that of the English King. Adams wanted no such thing.
And then there were political “upstarts” at the time who came out of nowhere and who had little philosophy
of government other than self-promotion. They were especially despised by
Adams. One was Aaron Burr, described by Adams as “seeing this dexterous gentleman rise like a balloon,
filled with uninflammable air….”(Does that not remind you of some present-day politicians?)
At least, in the early days of the country, most
political differences were couched in arguments alleging noble ideas. The
Federalists were pushing for a strong central government in order to bolster
the prospects for the new United States. Almost immediately, there emerged
the “Anti-Federalists” (eventually referred to as democratic “republicans,”) who believed in strong government at the state level but wanted a
weaker form at the federal level. Much of that feeling was founded on the fear
that the commercial north would try to dominate the rural (and slave-owning)
south through the power of the federal government.
Interestingly, these old political breakdowns still
sound familiar today. Fear still prevails in the south and in rural America,
that the nasty federalists (now Democrats) from the north will try to impose
their “big-government” will on the “freedom-loving people” of the south (now primarily Republican) and “never the twain shall meet.”
I suppose that we could argue all day about the
intrigue and bitterness that characterized politics in the early days of our
county. But, that is the point. Contentious politics has always been with us
and, probably, always will be.
What the American people have done in the past and
still have to do, is sift through the accusations and acrimony of politics and
find the nuggets of unity underlying our system. Underneath the veneer is that
love of country and freedom under law which, despite our differences, has made
our democracy work.
Ours is a history that continues to repeat itself, and
there is no way we can duck our obligations as citizens today to ensure that
the system, as imperfect as it is, keeps working.
Rolland Kidder is a Stow resident.
No comments:
Post a Comment