Who knows who wrote these words?

[JDPriestly]

Looking it up is cheating, but please go ahead with my permission (if that has any value to you).

Our hopes however of sudden tranquility ought not to be too sanguine. Fanaticism and Superstition will still be selfish, subtle, intriguing, and at times furious. Despotism will still struggle for domination; monarchy will still study to rival nobility in popularity; Aristocracy will continue to envy all above it, and despize [sic] and oppress all below it; Democracy will envy all, contend with all, endeavour [sic] to pull down all; and when by chance it happens to get the Upper hand for a short time, it will be revengeful bloody and cruel. These and other Elements of Fanaticism and Anarchy will yet for a long time continue a Fermentation, which will excite alarms and require Vigilance.

Page 435 from a book of letters edited by Lester J. Cappon (U. North Carolina Press 1959)

Puts history and our current struggle to limit our oligarchy in perspective.

I'm not including the title of the book because it would give the answer to my question away.

Here is another section from page 437 of the same book of letters:

I am very glad you have seriously read Plato: and still more rejoiced to find that your reflections upon him so perfectly harmonize with mine. Some thirty Years ago I took upon me the severe task of going through all the Works. With the help of two Latin Translations, and one English and one French Translation and comparing some of the most remarkable passages with the Greek, I laboured through the tedious toil. My disappointment was great, my Astonishment was greater and my disgust was shocking. Two Things only did I learn from him. 1. that Franklins Ideas of exempting Husbandmen and Mariners etc. from the depredations of War were borrowed from him. 2. that Sneezing is a cure for the Hickups. Accordingly I have cured myself and all my Friends of that provoking disorder, forr thirty Years with a Pinch of Snuff.

Page 437 from a book of letters edited by Lester J. Cappon (U. North Carolina Press 1959)

Hint: This letter was written by one of our former presidents.

Question: Can you imagine any of our recent presidents struggling through translations of Plato and comparing them with the Greek?????

And compare Donald Trump to the author of these paragraphs. Kind of puts the state of our country into perspective I think.

How low have we sunk?