Francis Foster

Anyway, so copies of this paper exist to this day.

You can find facsimiles online.

He finally goes to trial, and some slick lawyers from Pennsylvania argue for the first time in the English common law that truth is a defense against libel.

Yes, we do not argue truth.

that these things, these facts that we presented, make the governor open to ridicule.

He looks ridiculous.

He looks corrupt.

But this is the truth.

And truth, I should not be punished for producing the truth.

This is a revolutionary doctrine.

And because this is a British Empire case, this precedent will change the English-speaking world.

This German immigrant who's been in the United States, the colonies, really,

for less than a decade is about to change the english-speaking world but the governor and the upper class of new york which is a piece of the upper class of england is terrified how will we stop ridicule that will come from the lower classes how will we stop the finger pointing

Dare they?

Our honor comes from status.

And our status comes from not being ridiculous.

And when Quakers from Pennsylvania tell us that we're going to be made ridiculous, what to do?

And their answer is, don't do ridiculous things.

That's not satisfactory.

We are.