Thomas Jefferson Quotes
It appears that there have been differences of opinion and party differences, from the first establishment of government to the present day, and on the same question which now divides our own country; that these will continue through all future time; that every one takes his side in favor of the many, or of the few, according to his constitution
Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826, 3rd President of the United States (Democratic Republican, VA), Letter to John Adams, 1813
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
At the time the Republican party was a minor, third party and Douglas was disparaging that. While Douglas' general point has held true, the Republicans supplanted the Whigs as the second major party shortly thereafter.
His use of the noun “Democracy” refers not to a form of government but the specific institution of the Democratic Party. Smith, like many of the Founding Fathers was deeply suspicious of political parties. See also {614907}. Smith had written to most of the then likely Presidential candidates of both major parties asking for their position on the Mormons who were facing persecution wherever they went. None of the politicians would make any satisfactory commitments. Smith took Direct Action and became the only major religious official to have run for the Presidency of the United States until Pat Robertson tried and failed in 2000. Smith’s assassination shortly thereafter cut his run for the Presidency short before it made much headway and politically he had no chance to affect the race.
There were many in England and America who thought that political parties or “factions” as the Americans called them were inimical to republican government. Smyth disagreed and thought parties necessary for freedom and democracy. Turkey at the time was an Islamic Empire that while in decline still controlled large parts of Europe and most of North Africa. However, the Sultan had absolute control over both “church and state”. He was like the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor in one person, There was no freedom of thought or speech.
Faction was the word Madison used for Political Party.
Thomas Jefferson was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He had previously served as the second vice president of the United States under John Adams between 1797 and 1801. The principal author of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson was a proponent of democracy, republicanism, and individual rights, motivating American colonists to break from the Kingdom of Great Britain and form a new nation; he produced formative documents and decisions at both the state and national levels.
