6442. PARTIES, Public welfare and.—
Both of our political parties, at least the honest
part of them, agree conscientiously in the
same object—the public good; but they differ
essentially in what they deem the means of
promoting that good. One side believes it best
done by one composition of the governing
powers; the other, by a different one. One
fears most the ignorance of the people; the
other, the selfishness of rulers independent of
them. Which is right, time and experience
will prove. We think that one side of this experiment
has been long enough tried, and
proved not to promote the good of the many;
and that the other has not been fairly and sufficiently
tried. Our opponents think the reverse.
With whichever opinion the body of the nation concurs, that must prevail.—
To Mrs. John Adams. Washington ed. iv, 562.
Ford ed., viii, 312.
(M.
1804)
