PARTY

In Politics, a body W men united under different leaders for promoting by their joint endeavours the national interest, upon some particular principle in which they are all agreed. The origin of party may be traced to that law of the human mind which is founded in our natural desire of sympathy and our disposition to afford it. From the earliest ages down to the present time, the principle of mutual co-operation has been ^opted with succe in executing favourite designs, and in aiming at the accomplishment of certain ends. Among the ancient Romans, for example, " idem scntire de republic a" formed a principal ground of friendship and attachment; and the same feeling, modified by different forms of government and other circumstances, is at present in full operation in all the civilized states of Europe and America. The benefits of party may be briefly stated to be, increased energy in pursuit of a common object, regular co-operation, mutual control and regulation, and an advantageous division of labour. But though party or combination may in this manner be productive of good results, like every other principle and feeling in our nature, it is liable to be abuse^i and there can be no [s. 911]