to be an object of special protection. Instead of this, he represents what in reality is, habitually and naturally, the most powerful interest, all things considered, under every form of government in all civilized communities — the tax-consuming interest; or, more broadly, the great interest which necessarily grows out of the action of the government, be its form what it may — the interest that lives by the government. It is composed of the recipients of its honors and emoluments; and may be properly called, the government interest, or party — in contradistinction to the rest of the community — or (as they may be properly called) the people or commons. The one comprehends all who are supported by the government — and the other all who support the government — and it is only because the former are strongest, all things being considered, that they are enabled to retain, for any considerable time, advantages so great and commanding.
This great and predominant interest is naturally represented by a single head. For it is impossible, without being so represented, to distribute the honors and emoluments of the government among those who compose it, without producing discord and conflict — and it is only by preventing these, that advantages so tempting can be long retained. And, hence, the strong tendency of this great interest to the monarchical form — that is, to be represented by a single individual. On the contrary, the antagonistic interest — that which supports the government, has the opposite tendency — a tendency to be represented by many; because a large assembly can
