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reference is, of course, to the Federalists, whose leader, Alexander Hamilton, was the idol of the North, as Thomas Jefferson, the leader of the States' Rights party, was the idol of the South. Hear Hamilton's own utterances on the subject :
For my part, I avow myself a monarchist. I have no objection to a trial of this thing called a republic, but I own it is my opinion that the present gov- ernment is not that which will answer, and that it will be found expedient to
go into the British form There is no stability, no security, in any form
of government but a monarchy.
These opinions were expressed, be it remembered, but three short years after the present constitution had been adopted. And here, in view of later events, and the charge of disloyalty to the republic so often brought against the South, it is curious to note the relative positions of the two sections toward the national government. The truth is, from the beginning down to the present time, the South has always maintained the ideals and principles embodied in the constitution, and the rights and privileges guaranteed therein. It has been in favor of "a government of the people, with powers cautiously limited and clearly defined." In other words, the southern, or Jeffersonian, idea was that "the people are the masters of the government," whereas the Federalists were in favor of what they called "a strong government," the northern, or Hamiltonian, idea being that "the government is the master of the people." I use the terms "Jeffersonian" and "Hamiltonian" advisedly, to avoid misconception. It is greatly to be regretted that in the United States political parties have changed names more than once, thus introducing an element of confusion into political history. The Republican party of the present day, for example, is the lineal descendant, not of the Republican party of Washington's time, but of the Federal party, which, in its turn, traces its pedigree back to the Tories ; while the Democratic party of today represents the Republican party of Washington's day, and is descended from the Whigs. Why this last party ever yielded up its most appropriate name to its opponent it is hard to guess. Certainly, so far as the old South was concerned, the term " Republican " exactly defined its political status, whereas the
