In every political society, parties are unavoidable. A difference of
interests, real or supposed, is the most natural and fruitful source of
them. The great object should be to combat the evil: 1. By establishing a
political equality among all. 2. By withholding unnecessary opportunities
from a few, to increase the inequality of property, by an immoderate, and
especially an unmerited, accumulation of riches. 3. By the silent operation
of laws, which, without violating the rights of property, reduce extreme
wealth towards a state of mediocrity, and raise extreme indigence towards a
state of comfort. 4. By abstaining from measures which operate differently
on different interests, and particularly such as favor one interest at the
expence of another. 5. By making one party a check on the other, so far as
the existence of parties cannot be prevented, nor their views accommodated.
If this is not the language of reason, it is that of republicanism.
