ing lodged in its hands and itself exercising as far as possible all the functions of government, itself the master, its office-holders the servants, and dictating and rightly requiring from all the most republican simplicity.
Such, in brief outline, were the sentiments of those who regarded the vigorous policy so promptly adopted and put into operation under Washington, with dislike and distrust. The overshadowing influence of the President held many to the warm support of the administration who would otherwise have been in the ranks of the opposition, and a far greater number yielded acquiescence to the same spell. There was, however, a steady growth towards the principles of those opposed to centralization. But for a long time they lacked both organization and party-name. Of leaders there was no lack. New York offered some brilliant candidates for headship; Massachusetts herself could have supplied an able champion; but by general consent the position was accorded to Virginia. Not at once, indeed, but gradually. In the House of Representatives, Madison quickly won the first place, but he was then, as ever afterwards, second to Jefferson, and by the time that the third presidential election had come, Jefferson was almost without a rival. Had the party been better organized, with a clearer enunciation of principles, they would have made a much better stand even thus early. They lacked cohesion sadly, and hitherto they were without any party-name of general acceptation. The name of Anti-Federalist was too
