Political associations in the United States are therefore peaceable in their intentions, and strictly legal in the means which they employ; and they assert with perfect truth that they only aim at success by lawful expedients.
The difference which exists between the Americans and ourselves depends on several causes.

In Europe there are numerous parties so diametrically opposed to the majority that they can never hope to acquire its support, and at the same time they think that they are sufficiently strong in themselves to struggle and to defend their cause.

When a party of this kind forms an association, its object is, not to conquer, but to fight.
In America the individuals who hold opinions very much opposed to those of the majority are no sort of impediment to its power, and all other parties hope to win it over to their own principles in the end.

The exercise of the right of association becomes dangerous in proportion to the impossibility which excludes great parties from acquiring the majority.

In a country like the United States, in which the differences of opinion are mere differences of hue, the right of association may remain unrestrained without evil consequences.