7334. REPUBLICANISM (Partisan), Ardent and moderate.—
I had always expected
that when the republicans should have
put down all things under their feet, they
would schismatize among themselves. I always
expected, too, that whatever names the
parties might bear, the real division would be
into moderate and ardent republicanism. In
this division there is no great evil,—not even
if the minority obtain the ascendency by the
accession of federal votes to their candidate;
because this gives us one shade only, instead
of another, of republicanism. It is to be considered
as apostasy only when they purchase
the votes of federalists with a participation in
honor and power.—
To Thomas Cooper. Washington ed. v, 121.
Ford ed., ix, 102.
(W.
July. 1807)
