"The Federalist No. 10"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that James Madison's most amazing political prophecy, contained within the pages of "The Federalist No. 10", was that the size of the United States and its variety of interests could be guaranteed of stability and justice under the new constitution. The author points out that Madison made this prophecy when the accepted opinion among many politicians, such as David Hume, was the opposite. The paper relates that Madison's solution for the class struggle was not to set up an absolute and irresponsible state to regiment society from above but to multiply the deposits of political power in the state itself sufficiently in order to break down the sole dualism of rich and poor, allowing for a guarantee of liberty and security.

From the Paper:

"Starting with the proposition that "in republican government, the majority, ultimately give the law." Madison then asks, what is to restrain an interesting majority from unjust violations of the minority's rights? Three motives could be claimed to meliorate the selfishness of the majority: first, "prudent regard for their own good, as involved in the general...good" and second, "respect for character" and finally, religiousness. After examining each in its turn Madison concludes that they are but a frail bulwark against a ruthless party."

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