John Adams' the Mob Majority Opinion like the Plague
John Adams has been wondering way before 1805, that this new nation is going to hell in a handbasket. . He likens the plague to mob majority rule. He thinks the public gets infected with an opinion like a virus.
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In our modern Tale of Two Cities, perhaps both herds in America think this of the other. .
Importantly, John Adams is the one who reaches out first. . He reaches out first to both Benjamin West and to Thomas Jefferson to resume contact.
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John Adams and Benjamin West - no letters between 1790 and this first letter of Adams to West in 1805.
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John Adams and Thomas Jefferson - no letters between 1801 and 1812.
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From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 6 February 1805 Mount Wollaston - Alias Quincy Feby. 6. 1805 . Dear Sir
First Contact
It seemeth unto me that you and I ought not to die without saying good-bye or bidding each other Adieu. Pray how do you do? How does that excellent Lady Mrs: Rush; How are the young ladies? Where is my Surgeon & Lieut? How fares the lawyer?
About Plague
Two learned & famous Physicians, Sydenham & Rush have taught us, that the plague & the yellow fever, and all other epidemic diseases when they prevail in a City convert all other . . . disorders into plague. .
Plague like Opinion
I cannot help thinking that Democracy is a distemper of this kind, and when it is once set in motion and obtains a majority it converts every thing, good bad and indifferent into the dominant Epidemic. . . . . . .
Nation Going to Hell
Let me put a few questions to your conscience for I know you have one. . Is the present State of the Nation Republican enough? Is virtue the principle of our Government? Is honor? Or is ambition and avarice adulation, baseness, covetousness, the thirst of riches, indifference concerning the means of rising and enriching, the contempt of principle, the Spirit of party and of faction, the motive and the principle that governs? . These are Serious and dangerous questions; but serious men ought not to flinch from dangerous questions.—My Thomas and I have been reading together the Impeachments in the State Trials and we find that all Nations are too much alike. . My family unite with me in presenting respects and assurance of old regard to you and yours.
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J.A.
Source
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Madame deFarge
in the 1938 movie of Charles Dicken's story, Tale of Two Cities
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About Adams resuming contact with Jefferson
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Compiled by Jim Moyer 11/25/2024, updated with letter source 11/28/2024.
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