In this brilliant essay, A Teaching for Republicans, M.E. Bradford examines both (1) early Rome’s republican virtues (and how these were lost via Rome’s later military success) and (2) how the American Founders sought to create and protect such virtues in America: nomocracyinpolitics/2013/11/28/a-teaching-for-republicans-by-m-e-bradford/. Bradford’s own political vision is revealed in his interpretation of Rome’s republicanism—e.g., the superiority of agrarian republics (as opposed to urban oriented republics), the value of family oriented traditions impacting the formation of citizens, and the importance of republican traditions developing organically (as opposed to springing forth from abstract moral propositions). According to Bradford, such characteristics were the source of early Rome’s sustainability and strength. He, then, elaborates upon members of the American Founding generation who sought to model Rome’s republican success. Bradford focuses primarily upon three early statesmen: Patrick Henry, John Dickenson, and John Adams, which interestingly represent the Southern, Middle Atlantic, and New England States. The essay is a fascinating approach to American political thought, and it is valuable reading for those interested in republicanism and how various American Founders sought to develop it: nomocracyinpolitics/2013/11/28/a-teaching-for-republicans-by-m-e-bradford/.
Posted on: Sun, 01 Dec 2013 00:04:28 +0000
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