4 On Party-Prejudice. 
weeds of party-spirit and detraction spring up to 
luxuriance, when watered and cultivated by the pa- 
rent’s or tutor’s care. Example and authority often 
conspire to chain down the mind to illiberal and ridi- 
culous prejudices. The pupil-is early impressed by 
some appellation, descriptive of a party or sect. This 
term genérally embraces a complex idea. But the 
tender mind is suffered to entertain only the single 
idea of contempt, or disgrace, affixed to the obnox- 
ious party. Thus the real grounds on which such 
a party-distinction is built, are concealed from the 
view: perhaps they are little understood by those, 
whose duty it is to unfold their nature and designs. 
For to analyse the various interests of contending 
parties in a free government, requires a considerable 
attention to its history; and sucha degree of reflec- 
tion, as seldom falls to the share of a party-bigot. 
Youth are thus led to form unjust associations of 
ideas; which are frequently never eradicated dur- 
ing a life of study and information; even when as- 
sisted by the most brilliant talents. 
Locke observes, in his chapter on association, 
that some independent ideas of no alliance to 
one another, are by education, custom, and the 
constant din of party, so coupled in the mind 
that they always appear there together; and can 
no more be separated in thought, than if they 
were but one idea; and they operate as if they were 
SO. 
