[Loud Mime]

PING!

[metesky]

Founders bump.

[GregB]

Just started reading The Federalist Papers. Should be required reading in school.

[A Strict Constructionist]

“Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.”
Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution, 1833

This quote has never been more true than in this campaign for the Republican nomination.

[Redbob]

" I would say that this was not an improvement."

"Understatement of the Day" Nomination here!

[Greg F]

I loved each and every one of those quotes.

[Publius]

Thank you for posting this. I wasn't aware of Jay's connection to the wealthy and famous Dutch patroon family of the Van Cortlandts. I knew about his closeness to the Federalist patroon family of the Livingstons, but not about the partnership.

When you read the "Federalist Papers", pay close attention to the prose style. Hamilton comes across as a brilliant highly paid corporate lawyer -- which he had become by that time -- and dazzles you with his intellect. Madison comes across as the earnest student of history he was, one who had ready everything written by the ancients. (I'd ask Hamilton over to entertain a dinner party full of brilliant people, but if I wanted a friend over for a beer, I'd pick Madison.)

Jay comes across as the comic of the group with a puckish sense of humor. He likes to needle his opponents, not dazzle them or convince them with historic analogies. It's easy to spot a Jay essay.