of parties was consequently still more slow to grow
up; in any event, it had at the outset no need of a
rigid structure, for the reason that the number of voters
was generally limited by the qualifications for the
franchise, that the elective offices were not numerous,
and finally because in American society, especially in
New England, there was still a ruling class -- that is to
say, groups of men who, owing to their character, their
wealth, and their social position, commanded the confi-
dence of their fellow-citizens and made them accept
their leadership without a murmur. The candidates
were nominated in town meetings or county meetings,
but in reality these general gatherings simply ratified
selections made beforehand by the small coteries of
leaders.

In Pennsylvania, where the strife of factions was
particularly keen, a rough outline of an elective organi-
zation of parties appeared sooner than elsewhere, but
for a considerable time it proceeded by uncertain and
unconnected spurts in which it would be difficult to
discover a regular evolution. To nominate candidates
for elective offices which went beyond the limits of the
county, delegates from several localities assembled.
But all these meetings were composed in an anything
but regular way; too often the representation of the
different localities was neither complete nor direct.
The decisions taken in them, however, were not bind-
ing, neither voters nor candidates considered themselves
bound by the nominations made, and often the com-
petitors for elective offices who had not been accepted
went on with their candidatures just the same; they
offered themselves directly to the electorate.

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