The Clash of Values
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A Sober Republic.
The joyous citizens of Philadelphia celebrated the Constitution (rather than the Declaration of Independence) on July 4, 1788, with a great parade and lavish ceremony.
More than 17,000 people assembled on the green behind the State House to enjoy beer
and cider, ‘‘those invaluable Federal liquors.’’ Broadside, reprinted in vol. 4 of American Museum (Philadelphia, 1788).
tend to be overbearing, and even tyrannical. They become intolerant of
the rights of wealthy property owners, small religious sects, and other
minority groups because they have few differences among themselves.
The system of representation adopted by the Framers was preferable,
said Madison, because it established a large commercial republic in which