Joseph Dennie

thumb|Joseph Dennie Joseph Dennie (August 30, 1768 – January 7, 1812) was an American author and journalist who was one of the foremost men of letters of the Federalist Era. A Federalist, Dennie is best remembered for his series of essays entitled The Lay Preacher and as the founding editor of The Port Folio, a journal espousing classical republican values. Quotes A democracy is scarcely tolerable at any period of national history. Its omens are always sinister, and its powers are unpropitious. It is on its trial here, and the issue will be civil war, desolation, and anarchy. No wise man but discerns its imperfections, no good man but shudders at its miseries, no honest man but proclaims its fraud, and no brave man but draws his sword against its force. The institution of a scheme of policy so radically contemptible and vicious is a memorable example of what the villany of some men can devise, the folly of others receive, and both establish in spite of reason, reflection, and sensation. "Miscellaneous Paragraphs" in The Port Folio, ser. 1, vol. 3, no. 17 (23 April 1803) p. 125. A scathing critique of Jeffersonian democracy Eloquence may truly be considered in every country, where the freedom of speech is indulged, as synonimous with civic honours, wealth, dignity and might. In the last particular, its potency is that of a magician. It wields at will our fierce democracie. "Select Speeches" [Review of Select Speeches, Forensick and Parliamentary (1808) by Nathaniel Chapman] in The Port Folio, ser. 3, vol. 2, no. 1 (July 1809) p. 23. The phrase "fierce democracie" is quoted in Fitz-Greene Halleck's poem "Connecticut" and in John G. Saxe's poem "The Proud Miss MacBride: A Legend of Gotham", st. 13 External links Category:Editors from the United States Category:Poets from the United States Category:Political authors from the United States Category:Non-fiction authors from the United States Category:Lawyers from the United States Category:Columnists from the United States Category:Episcopalians from the United States Category:Harvard University alumni Category:1768 births Category:1812 deaths Category:People from Boston Category:Journalists from the United States