Democratic Thinker

Light Shining Out of Darkness. ————— GOD moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants his footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the...

Background of the American Revolution Samuel Adams—in his typical style—questions the wisdom of quartering troops among the civil population. But, to be called to account by...

Weekly Story An elderly man relates a tale from his childhood in which he attended a meeting at the South Fork Schoolhouse in Sangamon County,...

THE AMERICANIST, BACKGROUND OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Benjamin Franklin—following the defeat of General Braddock at Monongahela, July 9, 1755—writes an act to defend Pennsylvania. The...

THE AMERICANIST, WEEKLY STORY   A Chinese Christian relates his summer of 1900. For weeks a spell of horror had brooded over us, and one by...

Weekly Story A Nineteenth Century Englishman observes an ancient philosophy.     According to the Hindoos, the love-inspiring Krishna was one day shot with an arrow from the...

During the Third Congress, the United States begins the long anticipated dismantling of slavery within its borders. An Act Passed at the First Session of the Third...

Weekly Story An Eighteenth Century Irish novelist describes the family of a rural Vicar. I was ever of opinion, that the honest man who married and...

  The Wayfarer. ————— THE wayfarer, Perceiving the pathway to truth, Was struck with astonishment. It was thickly grown with weeds. “Ha,” he said, “I see that no one has passed here In...

Weekly Story An Eighteenth Century Puritan promotes a new medical procedure in Boston. He meets resistance.   … I write a further and a more distinct Account...

Considerations by the Way An early American immigrant lives among the Indians for a time. We shall not presume to anticipate the judgment of our fellow-citizens...

CORIOLANUS: A TRAGEDY ————— PERSONS REPRESENTED. CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. ATTIUS TULLUS, general of the Volscian army. GALESUS, one of the deputies of the Volscian states attending the camp. VOLUSIUS, one of...

Weekly Story George Washington, following his election as president, visits New England. Before his visit, the Selectmen of Portsmouth, N.H., question whether to introduce him...

Bringing in the Sheaves. ————— SOWING in the morning, Sowing seeds of kindness, Sowing in the noontide And the dewy eve; Waiting for the harvest, And the time...

Weekly Story During the battle at Lexington, a British convoy becomes separated from its escort.   They were of the exempts, or alarm list as it was...

Background of the American Revolution No one can understand the foundations of the American nation without understanding the English Civil War from a century earlier....

The Declaration. Certain sophists have taken to sneering at the democratic document upon which American liberties are predicated, because they have never taken the trouble...

Weekly Story During King Philip’s War, an old English Civil War commander makes an appearance. The people instantly betook themselves to their arms, which, according to...

Foundations of the United States Constitution Joseph Story—selected for the Supreme Court by James Madison in 1811—publishes a text book based on his series of...

Foundations of the United States Constitution James Wilson—signator of the Declaration of Independence, member of the Continental Congress, drafter of the U.S. Constitution, and an...