But Jefferson was not a vulgar, a selfish, or a scheming politician.  Though ambitious for the presidency, in his heart he preferred the quiet of Monticello to any elevation to which the people could raise him.  What he desired supremely was the triumph of democratic principles, since he saw in this triumph the welfare of the country,—­the interests of the many against the ascendency of the few,—­the real reign of the people, instead of the reign of an aristocracy of money or birth.  Believing that the people knew, or ought to know, their own interests, he was willing to intrust them with unlimited political power.  The Federalist leaders saw in the ascendency of the people the triumphs of demagogy, the ignoring of experience in government, the reign of passions, unenlightened measures leading to financial and political ruin, and would therefore restrict the privilege, or, as some would say, the right, of suffrage.

In such a war of principles the most bitter animosities were to be expected, and there has never been a time when such fierce party contests disgraced the country as at the close of Washington’s administration, if we except the animosities attending the election of General Jackson.  It was really a war between aristocrats and plebeians, as in ancient Rome; and, as at Rome, every succeeding battle ended in the increase of power among the democracy.  At the close of the administration of President Adams the Federal party was destroyed forever.  It is useless to speculate as to which party was in the right.  Probably both parties were right in some things, and wrong in others.  The worth of a strong government in critical times has been proved by the wholesome action of such an autocrat as Jackson in the Nullification troubles with South Carolina, and the successful maintenance of the Union by the power-assuming Congress during the Rebellion; while Jackson’s autocracy in general, and the centralizing tendency of Congressional legislation since 1865, are instances of the complications likely to arise from too strong a government in a country where the people are the final source of power.  The value of universal suffrage—­the logical result of Jefferson’s views of government—­is still an open question, especially in cities.  But whether good or bad in its ultimate results, the victory was decisive on the part of the democracy, whose main principle of “popular sovereignty” has become the established law of the land, and will probably continue to rule as long as American institutions last.

The questions since opened have been in regard to slavery,—­in ways which Jefferson never dreamed of,—­the comparative power of the North and South, matters of finance, tariffs, and internal improvements, involving the deepest problems of political economy, education, and constitutional law; and as time moves on, new questions will arise to puzzle the profoundest intellects; but the question of the ascendency of the people is settled beyond