The idle, the ambitious, and the needy will band together to break the hold that law has upon them

From The Dangers of American Liberty by Fisher Ames. One of the most passionate advocates of Federalism in the Federalism versus Republicanism debates. I do not share his advocacy of centralization of power but his thoughts are more than worth reading. It is wonderful reading an intelligent man's exercise of trying to anticipate and design in to the system, defenses against the known weaknesses of democracy.

This passage is marvelously foresightful of our current challenge where citizens are fighting, not factions per se, but the "despotick faction", the establishment.

Who will be the associates? Certainly not the virtuous, who do not wish to control the society, but quietly to enjoy its protection. The enterprising merchant, the thriving tradesman, the careful farmer, will be engrossed by the toils of their business, and will have little time or inclination for the unprofitable and disquieting pursuits of politics. It is not the industrious, sober husbandman, who will plough that barren field; it is the lazy and dissolute bankrupt, who has no other to plough. The idle, the ambitious, and the needy will band together to break the hold that law has upon them, and then to get hold of law. Faction is a Hercules, whose first labor is to strangle this lion, and then to make armor of his skin. In every democratic state, the ruling faction will have law to keep down its enemies; but it will arrogate to itself an undisputed power over law. If our ruling faction has found any impediments, we ask, which of them is now remaining? And is it not absurd to suppose, that the conquerors will be contented with half the fruits of victory?

We are to be subject, then, to a despotick faction, irritated by the resistance that has delayed, and the scorn that pursues their triumph, elate with the insolence of an arbitrary and uncontrollable domination, and who will exercise their sway, not according to the rules of integrity or national policy, but in conformity with their own exclusive interests and passions.

This is a state of things which admits of progress, but not of reformation; it is the beginning of a revolution, which must advance. Our affairs, as first observed, no longer depend on counsel. The opinion of a majority is no longer invited or permitted to control our destinies, or even to retard their consummation. The men in power may, and no doubt will give place to some other faction, who will succeed, because they are abler men, or possibly, in candor we say it, because they are worse. Intrigue will for some time answer instead of force, or the mob will supply it. But by degrees force only will be relied on by those who are in, and employed by those who are out. The vis major will prevail, and some bold chieftain will conquer liberty, and triumph and reign in her name.

This is the passage that is especially resonant.

Irritated by the resistance that has delayed, and the scorn that pursues their triumph, elate with the insolence of an arbitrary and uncontrollable domination, and who will exercise their sway, not according to the rules of integrity or national policy, but in conformity with their own exclusive interests and passions.

We had a fair and free election which delivered the candidate of the people with clarity and integrity. No one has questioned the integrity of the system or the finality of the electoral college. Many have argued for reform so that the despotick faction can achieve power without consent of the governed, but no one claims that the people's candidate did not legitimately achieve victory against all expectations and odds.

They don't make that argument because it is unsupportable by the facts but the despotick faction have certainly spent vast time, effort and money, to undermine the legitimacy of the freely elected candidate of the people and have sought consistently and persistently since before inauguration to find some way to overturn the people's candidate. They seek to protect the corrupted system of despotick faction which has served them so well and which is so threatened by the disruptor who seeks to drain the swamp.

Fascinating the insight and wisdom of those at our founding two and a half centuries ago.