While the Republicans get under way, just outside the shadow of hundreds of thousands of protesters and the shade of Chicago '68, TFD's link to Hamilton led me to re-read Paper No. 10. The words still resonate as Hamilton and/or Madison discusses "factions":

There are two methods of curing the mischiefs of faction: the one, by removing its causes; the other, by controlling its effects.

There are again two methods of removing the causes of faction: the one, by destroying the liberty which is essential to its existence; the other, by giving to every citizen the same opinions, the same passions, and the same interests.

It could never be more truly said than of the first remedy, that it was worse than the disease. Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.

I knew, but had forgotten, that the Papers were published in New York newspapers originally. Imagine that, today. Worse than the demise of the press is the demise of our leaders. Which of them today could write something of such lasting wisdom ... and which of us could read it?