The last time I made a book club post was May 20th! For that reason, I decided to re-post the May 20th portion of Federalist Paper #1 written by Alexander Hamilton under the pen name Publius.

As we are now well aware, the writing is antiquated, so we will continue with only one paragraph. This section is also wordier than most sentences and paragraphs within modern news articles (these newspaper essays were published between 1787 and 1788), so I will again insert a blank line between each semi-colon and period to ease readability.

This week we have a 2nd opportunity to discuss the 4th paragraph.

Please reply with your thoughts, disagreements, questions, and comments. We will have one week to deliberate before moving to the 5th paragraph.

It is not, however, my design to dwell upon observations of this nature.

I am well aware that it would be disingenuous to resolve indiscriminately the opposition of any set of men (merely because their situations might subject them to suspicion) into interested or ambitious views.

Candor will oblige us to admit that even such men may be actuated by upright intentions;

and it cannot be doubted that much of the opposition which has made its appearance, or may hereafter make its appearance, will spring from sources, blameless at least, if not respectable--the honest errors of minds led astray by preconceived jealousies and fears.

So numerous indeed and so powerful are the causes which serve to give a false bias to the judgment, that we, upon many occasions, see wise and good men on the wrong as well as on the right side of questions of the first magnitude to society.

This circumstance, if duly attended to, would furnish a lesson of moderation to those who are ever so much persuaded of their being in the right in any controversy.

And a further reason for caution, in this respect, might be drawn from the reflection that we are not always sure that those who advocate the truth are influenced by purer principles than their antagonists.

Ambition, avarice, personal animosity, party opposition, and many other motives not more laudable than these, are apt to operate as well upon those who support as those who oppose the right side of a question.

Were there not even these inducements to moderation, nothing could be more ill-judged than that intolerant spirit which has, at all times, characterized political parties.

For in politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution." ~ Alexander Hamilton (pseudonym Publius), Web Link: guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/text-1-10

(Entire document in link above, should you wish to refresh your memory, or read ahead. Nevertheless, this week we are conversing about the 3rd paragraph, albeit in context with the 1st and 2nd.)

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