Passage VIII (Questions 125–131)
From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always
All combinations and associations, under whatever
plausible character, with the real design to direct, control,
counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of
the established government, serve to organize faction, to
5 give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the
place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party.
I have already intimated to you the danger of political par-
ties, with particular reference to the founding of them on
geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more
10 comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn
manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party,
generally. The spirit of party, unfortunately, is inseparable
from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of
the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all gov-
15 ernments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed;
but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest
rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.
The alternate domination of one party over another,
sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to political dis-
20 sension, which in different ages and countries has perpe-
trated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful
despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and
permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which
result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security
25 and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and
sooner or later the chief of some prevailing party, more
able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this dis-
position to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins
of Public Liberty.
30 Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind
(which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight),
the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party
are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise peo-
ple to discourage and restrain it. It serves always to distract
35 the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administra-
tion. It agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies
and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against
another, and occasionally foments riot and insurrection. It
opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which
40 find a facilitated access to the government itself through
the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will
of one country are subjected to the policy and will of
another.
There is an opinion that parties are useful checks upon
45 the administration of Government and serve to keep alive
the spirit of Liberty. This within certain limits is probably
true; and in Governments of a Monarchical cast, Patriotism
may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit
of party. But in those of the popular character, in Govern-
50 ments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged.
be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And,
there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to
be, by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it.
55 A fire not to be quenched, this spirit demands a uniform
vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead
of warming, it should consume.
125. As it is used in the passage as a whole, the phrase
“spirit of party” refers to:
A. the part of a human being associated with the
mind, will, and feelings.
B. a strong inclination to act to further the political
goals of a particular organization.
C. the tendency of conflicting views within a
nation to result in concentration of individuals
around two different positions.
D. the animating force or principle of an organiza-
tion.
126. The passage indicates that its author would most
probably disagree with which of the following state-
ments?
A. To function as intended, republics require citi-
zens free of control by others and free of the
influence of selfish interests.
B. As leaders of parties become successful they
may become corrupted by power and stimulated
by the struggle to achieve and retain it, thus los-
ing their capacity to serve the public good.
C. Republics that are too large and embrace too
many diverse interests are inherently unstable.
D. Republics require enlightened leaders able to
rise above selfish marketplace concerns and
local partisan interests to promote the public
good.
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127. The passage refers to each of the following as among
the usual negative effects of the “spirit of party”
EXCEPT:
A. impairing the established government’s ability
to focus and act effectively on its appropriate
business.
B. fostering an attraction to an authoritarian form
of government, as an alternative to the miseries
of dissension.
C. resulting in a vulnerability (opening) that can be
exploited by other nations.
D. providing a vehicle for contentious groups to
flourish and act effectively in the political
sphere.
130. Assume that a group feels that an action being con-
sidered by a popular government is wrong. It can be
inferred that the author would be LEAST likely to
encourage the public to respond to this group by:
A. supporting the legitimacy of the government’s
authority to take the action in question.
B. rebutting in the public forum any statements
made by the dissenters criticizing the govern-
ment’s actions.
C. discouraging those who dissent from organizing
around the issue.
D. discouraging dissenters from making statements
calculated to engage the strong feelings of those
who share their views.

128. The metaphor used in the last sentence of the passage 131. It can be inferred from the passage that all of the fol-
reflects most directly the author’s view of how the lowing are fundamental to the “spirit of party”
“spirit of party” must be managed in the case of: EXCEPT:
A. monarchies. A. human nature.
B. patriotic movements. B. faction.
C. dictatorships. C. organization.
D. democracies. D. elective government.

129. As it is used in the last sentence of the first para-

graph, the word “popular” most probably means a
government that:
A. is widely liked or appreciated by the people at
large.
B. encourages maximal participation of the people
at large in its functions.
C. reflects the basic preferences of the people at
large.
D. has been authorized by the people at large.

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