The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-10-26
CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS
By FREDERIC ! HASKIM
THE FORMATION OF PARTIES

In strong central government and
a loose or broad construction OF the
constitution. while the Anti-federal-
lists We're tenacious of the rights OF
the states and demanded strict con-
struction OF the fundamental law.
President Washington feared the divl-
sion OF the people into hostile polIti-
cal camps and did his best 10 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 machln-
cry OF the new government
When the time came TO choose the
members of the second congress
there was a great deal more public
interest than had been manifested In
the first election. and this---the first
on" year campaign-resulted in the
election OF fifty-hve Federalists and
fourteen Anti-federalists. 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 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 der!sion always called their oppon-
ents Democrats" In the fullness OF
time the name given in derision was
adopted in pride. just as was the APP
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 first 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
of year election OF 1894 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, fifty
four Democrats and flfty-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.
III the Democratic electoral votes
had been massed Adams would have
been defeated. The knowledge OF this
TACT and the possession OF slight
advantage In the house OF represent
| 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 II 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.