So it came about that Washington received another unanimous election.  He had no great longing for public office, but at this time he seems to have been not without a desire to continue President, in order that he might carry his measures to completion.  In the unanimity of the choice he took a perfectly natural pleasure, for besides the personal satisfaction, he could not but feel that it greatly strengthened his hands in doing the work which he had at heart.  On January 20, 1793, he wrote to Henry Lee:  “A mind must be insensible, indeed, not to be gratefully impressed by so distinguished and honorable a testimony of public approbation and confidence; and as I suffered my name to be contemplated on this occasion, it is more than probable that I should, for a moment, have experienced chagrin if my reelection had not been by a pretty respectable vote.  But to say I feel pleasure from the prospect of commencing another tour of duty would be a departure from the truth.”  Some time was still to pass before Washington, either by word or deed, would acknowledge himself to be the chief or even a member of a party; but before he entered the presidency a second time, he had no manner of doubt that a party existed which was opposed to him and to all his measures.

The establishment of the government and the treasury measures had very quickly rallied a strong party, which kept the name that it had adopted while fighting the battles of the Constitution.  They were known in their own day, and have been known ever since to history, as the Federalists.  The opposition, composed chiefly of those who had resisted the adoption of the Constitution, were discredited at the very start by the success of the union and the new government.  When Jefferson took hold of them they were disorganized and even nameless, having no better appellation than that of “Anti-Federalists.”  In the process of time their great chief gave them a name, a set of principles, a war-cry, an organization, and at last an overwhelming victory.  They began to take on something like form and coherence in resisting Hamilton’s financial measures; but the success of his policy was so dazzling that they were rather cowed by it, and were left by their defeat little better off in the way of discipline than before.  The French Revolution and its consequences, including a war with England, gave them a much better opportunity.  It is melancholy to think that American parties should have entered upon their first struggle purely on questions of foreign politics.  The only explanation is to repeat that we were still colonists in all but name and allegiance, and it was Washington’s task not only to establish a dignified and independent policy of his own abroad, but to beat down colonial politics at home.