I know why the estimable Mr. Pierce chose this anecdote, and I don't mean to take away from it. But the idea political violence is both new and more dangerous than any threat in American history since (at least) 1860 is simply ahistorical nonsense.In 1878, there was a violent dispute over a gubernatorial election in Maine. JL Chamberlain was called out of retirement to mediate. Facing down a mob, he said, " If anybody wants to kill me for it, here I am! Let him kill!"
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) September 19, 2022
Keep his deeds out of your mouth, Sparky. https://t.co/lfztBeOjF1
Jules Verne's Phileas Fogg finds himself in a western town while crossing the U.S. on his way back to England. He comes upon a riot which is not actually a riot but a political campaign. For dog-catcher. Mr. Verne, easily a decade earlier than the Maine gubernatorial riot (his book was published in 1872) had already heard of the passions aroused in America over politics. Mr. Verne was engaging in satire; but the world recognized the root truth in his mockery.
Whatever made us think it had gone away?
Nobody remembers the Election of 1800. Or that people wanted to not only impeach George Washington, but rioted quite a bit after Jay's Treaty. And there's the Whiskey Rebellion. Oh, and Shay's, which finally got us a real Constitution. And back in '74, when the Massholes ran judges out of the place...
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