In 1798, there was a young Republican publicist named Benjamin Franklin Bache, the editor of the Philadelphia Aurora, who was known as "Lightning Rod, Junior" because he was the grandson of Benjamin Franklin and was known for his shocking phraseology. Impetuous, harsh, narrow-minded and devoted to the belief that the sins of the mighty must be exposed, he once made fun of Abigail Adams for crying when her husband was greatly honored. He made a habit of accusing President Adams of nepotism, misuse of public funds and monarchic ambitions, calling him "old, querulous, bald, blind, crippled, toothless Adams." Abigail retaliated by describing Bache as "that lying wretch of a Bache." 1
             The Aurora and other Republican newspapers continued to attach Federalist foreign policy. They demanded that America try to negotiate a settlement with France and accused the Federalists of using the threat of war with France to gain support for their party. Adams was galled by the accusations and became almost sick over them and the conflict with France; he was trying to build the nation's defenses, yet hoping to persuade France to adopt conciliation. He was trying to walk the thin line between a declaration of war and humble acceptance of the French attacks. The divisive Republican attitude made his position difficult because he believed the nation could avoid a potentially catastrophic war if it appeared united. Reflecting this fear, the Federalist newspapers declared bluntly that in the current situation dissent equaled treason. One Federalist editor concluded that any American who "opposed the administration is an anarchist, a Jacobin, and a traitor."
             By the middle of 1798 many Federalists became convinced that if the country was going to avoid foreign domination and civil strife, the Republican press' denunciations must cease. Certainly, public discussion of important issues was important in a free ...