The Detroit times., 1910-10-26
CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS
THE FORMATION OF PARTIES
BY FREDERIC ] HASKIM

n a - AfW.
+, The new constitution having been
accepted, but human nature not hav'
ing been reyolutionized, the political
class again divided on the question
OF how the constitution ought to be
interpreted The party names FEEDER
alist and Anti-federalist, were con
tinued, but with a new meaning. The
Federalists were those who believed
In strong central government and
loose or broad construction OF the
constitution, while the Anti-federal-
lists were tenacious Of the rights Of
the states and demanded strict con-
sttuction OF the fundamental law
President Washington feared the divi.
sion OF the people into hostile politi.
cal camps and did his best to keep
down political agitation. He invited
into his cabinet Alexander Hamilton,
foremost among the broad construc.
tionists. and Thomas Jefferson. the
leader OF the strict constructionists.
But this administrative act could not
prevent division OF opinion in the
congress which was charged with the
business OF making statutory pro-
visions for establishing the machin,
cry OF the new government.
When the time came TO choose the
members OF the second congress
there was great deal more public
interest than had been manifested In
the first election. and this-the first
'off" year campaign-resulted In the
election OF fifty-five Federalists and
fourteen Antifederalists. The FEEDER,
alist victory was complete, but the
senate showed change of sentiment
that presaged the coming division
there being seventeen Federalists and
thirteen Anti-federalists in the upper
house. In the first congress the sen.
ate had been solidly Federalist. in the
second congress that party had a ma
jority Of but two.
The Federalists acknowledged the
personal leadership Of Hamilton
while the opposition was captained
by Mr.. Jefferson who soon abandoned
the title Of Anti-federalist and gave
his following the name Of Democratic
Republican party. The members OF
the party usually shortened this name
to Republican" but the Federalists
in derision always called their oppon.
ents Democrats" In the fullness OF
time the name given In derision was
adopted in pride. just az was the ap.
pellation Christian" and the party
dropped the co-title Republican" and
ever since has been known as the
Democratic party. The word Repub.
lican was nrst dropped generally in
1924. but remained In use in many
states until 1850.
In 1892 Washington was reelected
president. being supported both by
the Federalists and the Democrats,
But the two parties fought hard for
congressional control, and, for the
first time, the Federalists were de-
feated, the Democrats returning fifty
four members of the house, as against
fifty-one Federalists, giving a Demo.
cratic majority Of three. But the
Federalists gained In the senate,
where there were eighteen Federal
lists and twelve Democrats. In the
or year election of 1874 the Fed.
eralists made violent efforts to gain
control Of the lower house Of congress
but were not successful, the Demo
Gratis increasing their majority from
three to thirteen.
In 1896 General Washington hav-
ing refused q third term, the two par.
ties for the first time went into battle
with the presidency at stake, the
Federaliss supporting John Adams
and the Democrats Thomas Jefferson.
There were then sixteen states and
the presidential electors were chosen
by the legislatures in ten of them.
Adams was elected president, but the
Federalists were unable to capture
the house of representatives, nifty
four Democrats and nfty-one Federal.
lists being elected. The Federaiists
were successful In state legislative
contests. however, and increased their
majority In the senate, having twenty.
one as against eleven Democrats.
II the Democratic electoral votes
had been massed Adams would have
been defeated. The knowledge OF this
fact and the possession Of a slight
advantage In the house of represen-
tatives caused the Democrats to view
with suspicion every act Of the ad
ministration. Adams utter lack OF
tact contributed to Democratic dis
trust. Thus 1t came about that the
party division was made absolute and
Federalists and Democrats began to
hate each other. Then came the first
great political campaign Of our his
tory.