PAR'TY, in politics, a body of men united under different leaders for promot ing, by their joint endeavors, the nation al interest, upon some particular prin ciple 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 prin ciple of mutual co-operation has been adopted with success in executing favor ite designs, and in aiming at the accom plishment of certain ends. Among the ancient Romans, for example, " ident seal ire de republica" formed n principal ground of friendship and attachment ; and the same feeling, modified by differ ent forms of government and other cir cumstances, 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 anti regulation, and an advantageous division of labor.
But, though party or combination may in this manner be productive of good results, like every other principle and feeling in our notore, it is liable to he abused. It involves a frequent sacrifice of individual notions of what is just and proper, and tempts bodies of men to act in a way that would often he deemed discreditable in individuals. Perhaps the worst effect of party is its tendency to generate narrow, false, and illiberal prejudices, by teach ing the adherents of ono party to regard those that belong to an opposing party as unworthy of confidence ; and in making them oppose good measures becanse they happen to be proposed by a different party, and support bad measures because they are proposed or supported by their own party.