The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-14
POLITICAL PARTIES ORIGIN
BY F. l. MONKS.

Eleven years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the first ses- sion of B convention was held In the same hall in Philadelphia from whence the dec iaratlon Issued, This convention was charged with the framing of a constitution under which the newly federated states should continue their future existence, On May 2S. 17s7, the delegates first met; on September r. 17s7 the constitution was signed and sent forth for ratification. Two years passed before the necessary number -nine-ratified the instrument. and In 17S9 1t went into effect.
 Considerable opposition was shown to the new constitution among the people; It's friends were known as federalists and it's opponents as anti-federalists. The federal ists elected George Washington President of the United States of America.
 In Washington's cabinet were two men, each the antithesis of the other In every respect, save one. Alexander Hamilton was a democrat, man of the people by birth, and an aristocrat by nature and in- clination: Thomas Jefferson was an aristo- crat by birth, but by nature and disposi- tlon man of the people-a democrat. These two men took exactly opposite views upon the interpretation of the con- stitution, Hamilton favoring liberal con- struction, giving the President much scope to exercise his high prerogative 2 largely as Nhe saw fit, while Jefferson in- sisted on rigid adherence to and strict construction of the instrument, limiting the power of the President to the powers expressly conferred.
 The aristocratie tendency of Hamilton, in addition to his desire of giving so much power to the President, created the im- pression in the mind of Jefferson that Hamilton secretly favored monarchy, while the democratic proclivities of Jef- ferson aroused the-suspiclons of Hamilton t4.at Jefferson was seized with the mania of the French revolution, which was then beginning to raise its head. Hence it was that these two men became bitterly op- posed to each other. although both men were perfectly honest and sincere in their patriotism and loyalty to the constitution.
 It was not long until these men became personal as well as political enemies, with 1ne result that Jefferson undertook the formation of a new party which he called by the name of republican"
 The new party was the peoples party, the party of the democracy as opposed to the party of the aristocracy. The word republican was chosen as opposed to the monarchial leanings of the federalists. It was made up of the middle and lower classes, while the aristocratic class re- mained with the federalsts.
 Washington was obliged, much against his will, to take sides on the question, and he naturally took the side of Hamilton and the aristocrats. This was the origin of the political party known and styled then as the republican, but known today as the democratic party.
 When Washington's second term expired he retired, leaving the battle for the Presi- dency between the federalists and the re- publicans. The candidates were John Ad- ans, federalist, and Thomas Jefferson, re- publican. The people, although believing in Jeffersons doctrines, were not pre-. pared to accept them, and Adams was elected President, with Jefferson Vice President.
 During Adams administration many laws were passed which the republicans considered aimed at them, principally the alien and sedition laws. War with France was imminent, and unpopular taxes were imposed to raise revenue to equip an army. Shareholders were taxed on the number of slaves they held; householders