Fed. No. 10

The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man; and we see them everywhere brought into different degrees of activity, according to the different circumstances of civil society. A zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for pre-eminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate for their common good. So strong is this propensity of mankind to fall into mutual animosities, that where no substantial occasion presents itself, the most frivolous and fanciful distinctions have been sufficient to kindle their unfriendly passions and excite their most violent conflicts. But the most common and durable source of factions has been the various and unequal distribution of property. Those who hold and those who are without property have ever formed distinct interests in society. Those who are creditors, and those who are debtors, fall under a like discrimination. A landed interest, a manufacturing interest, a mercantile interest, a moneyed interest, with many lesser interests, grow up of necessity in civilized nations, and divide them into different classes, actuated by different sentiments and views. The regulation of these various and interfering interests forms the principal task of modern legislation, and involves the spirit of party and faction in the necessary and ordinary operations of the government.

---

Madison carries on to further explore the different reasons behind the vested interests of men. The position of ideas carried out in their daily interactions within society, be it religious, governmental or civil, they carry about and identify with parties where ideologies are shared. However, this is the same double edged sword that may divide and conquer a group that has objections far to powerful to turn into a peaceful mutual agreement. Far from the cooperation of the "idea" of "common good" for everyone, this can be a reason behind oppression from one party to another. However, Madison touched upon the most common conflict of division, the unequal distribution of property. Everyone stands along a pin point of society and their roles from which they make a living can further divide the factions, per se the creditors in contrast to the debtors. Their interest vest a much larger conflict for not all can be satisfied nor shifted to the "common core ideology". This results in the principle of the modern legislation which operated for the necessary goals of the government, hence the special interest of a faction can be neither destroyed nor purposely completely satisfied.


I chose this passage because it spoke to me about the reality of why there is even a political system in place. Men and women alike all have different interests that are vested in their daily lifestyles or association with a particular group, party or institution. To want to convey to the needs of the individual's special interests of a faction would be nearly impossible as well as wanting to diminish them alike. To have a system that not only addresses these impracticable satisfactions of common division between unity, but that also seeks to involve them in the operations of government, is up to the factions to convey their interest in making their own representations.