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Here is an interesting passage from Madison's Federalist #10 which I believe answers your question:

"There are two methods of curing the mischiefs of faction: the one, by removing its causes; the other, by controlling its effects.

There are again two methods of removing the causes of faction: the one, by destroying the liberty which is essential to its existence; the other, by giving to every citizen the same opinions, the same passions, and the same interests.

It could never be more truly said than of the first remedy, that it was worse than the disease. Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.

The second expedient is as impracticable as the first would be unwise. As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed. As long as the connection subsists between his reason and his self-love, his opinions and his passions will have a reciprocal influence on each other; and the former will be objects to which the latter will attach themselves. The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results; and from the influence of these on the sentiments and views of the respective proprietors, ensues a division of the society into different interests and parties."

Much has been made by historians of George Washington's counsel against the formation of "factions" in his farewell address; many take it to be a blanket condemnation of political parties. I can't really say for sure, because the terminology in this document is vague, but it should be noted that the major author here was not Washington, but Madison, the very defender of factions quoted above, and the principle founder of the anti-Federalist Republican party. Washington, too, had to have seen the political formations which were already well-formed by the time the farewell address was presented, and in fact, he sided with the Federalists more often than not. I think the target of this attack was inter-party strife, divisions within parties, rahter than the party system itself which Washington and Madsion had pretty much embraced.

As for the Federalist #10, Madison clearly saw negative effects in intense factionalism, but he saw the solution as more detrimental by far.

2006-08-31 06:12:16 · answer #1 · answered by nacmanpriscasellers 4 · 0 0

Madison's use of the word "faction" especially reffered to prepared political events that have been generally referred to as "factions" at that element. different than wealthy people who tried to prop up candiates financially to extra healthful there financial and corporation pursuits, and insent then to work together what we would call speaking factors in the present day, there have been no what we would pastime communities in the present day at that element. In a well-liked experience particular, i think of it rather is truthful to declare inner maximum and public pastime communities to boot through fact the p.c.. all of us understand in the present day might desire to be secure interior the communicate Madison engaged in, in Federalist 10. you may discover the object I wrote years in the past utilising a well-liked interpretation "factions" as divisive caucuses interior of poltical events to foment action for social or concerns interior of their elected individuals of value.

2016-11-23 16:12:29 · answer #2 · answered by defibaugh 4 · 0 0

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