The Founders Warned of a Poisonous Two Party System

by

       M. Richard Maxson

      When George Washington became President of the United States in 1789, there were no political parties. Political parties first emerged during Washington’s first term in office with the Alexander Hamilton’s Federalist Party in 1791 and in the following year, the formation of the Anti-Federalist Party or Democratic-Republicans under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson. The two political parties formulated their differing views of how government ought to operate in the new republic.

      By 1796, President George Washington was so distressed by the way America was splitting into two political factions that he devoted much of his Farewell Address to warning his countrymen, "in the most solemn manner, against the baneful effects of the spirit of party" over the spirit of the nation. He acknowledged that it was natural for people with common interests to organize into competing groups. But passionate loyalty to political parties too often fueled "the most horrid enormities" — vengefulness, dissension, and repression.” he stated, “The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism.” John Adams agreed. He said, "There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution."

      The 1800 presidential election was extraordinarily bitter. Jefferson, who like President Trump was not expected to win, successfully challenged the Federalist incumbent, John Adams. Federalists were enraged at losing the White House, and there was real fear, as there was in 2016, that party hatred would ignite into violence. Fortunately, the transfer of the White House was peaceful, and Jefferson's address is remembered for his famous plea for unity: "We are all Republicans. We are all Federalists." Toxic partisanship sickens a society, George Washington warned. "It agitates the community" and "kindles the animosity of one part against another." Tens of millions of Americans agree with him.

      As is evident today, Democrats or Republicans, and their rivalry has lately grown more poisonous and hateful than at any time in memory. The Founding Fathers were right, unity doesn't stand a chance when American politics are dominated by an unhinged two-party duopoly. This dominance is why there is no third political party in the United States, but examining the figures there should be. 

       According to the Pew Research Center, 38 percent of US adults call themselves independents, significantly more than those who are Democrats (31 percent) or Republicans (26 percent). Quite a few voters, it would seem, share George Washington's aversion to partisanship. The "people's house" was designed to reflect the public's loyalties, preferences, and passions. In a nation where more than 1 of every 4 registered voters explicitly rejects a party affiliation, there ought to be scores of independents serving in the House.

      Unfortunately today, with the power of the Internet to inflame widespread rage and contempt, and to micro-examine and destroy one’s opponent, the continuation of this entrenched two party system is inevitable. A third party challenge, such as that of Ross Perot, is inconceivable. A third party candidate would be drawn and quartered by the Leftist corporate bureaucracy that control our entire media. They have an agenda and a third candidate is not part of their plans.