Ran across this yesterday... been awhile since I've read it. How far we've gone astray from the wisdom of our founding fathers.
Excerpt from George Washington's Farewell Address (1796):
"Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against
the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.
"This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest
passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all
governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of
the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.
"The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge,
natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has
perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But
this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders
and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security
and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the
chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his
competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on
the ruins of public liberty.
"Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to
be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of
party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to
discourage and restrain it.
"It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration.
It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles
the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and
insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which
finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of
party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to
the policy and will of another.
"There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the
administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty.
This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a
monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon
the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments
purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural
tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every
salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought
to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be
quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame,
lest, instead of warming, it should consume."
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