“Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties:
1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers
from them into the hands of the higher classes. 2. Those who identify
themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and
consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise
depositary of the public interests. In every country these two parties
exist, and in every one where they are free to think, speak, and write,
they will declare themselves. Call them, therefore, Liberals and
Serviles, Jacobins and Ultras, Whigs and Tories, Republicans and
Federalists, Aristocrats and Democrats, or by whatever name you please,
they are the same parties still and pursue the same object. The last
one of Aristocrats and Democrats is the true one expressing the essence
of all.”
– Thomas Jefferson (Letter to Henry Lee, 1824)