Itcannotbedeniedthattheunrestrainedlibertyofassociationforpoliticalpurposesistheprivilegewhichapeopleislongestinlearninghowtoexercise。Ifitdoesnotthrowthenationintoanarchy，itperpetuallyaugmentsthechancesofthatcalamity。Ononepoint，however，thisperilouslibertyoffersasecurityagainstdangersofanotherkind;incountrieswhereassociationsarefree，secretsocietiesareunknown。InAmericatherearenumerousfactions，butnoconspiracies。
DifferentwaysinwhichtherightofassociationisunderstoodinEuropeandintheUnitedStates—Differentusewhichismadeofit。
Themostnaturalprivilegeofman，nexttotherightofactingforhimself，isthatofcombininghisexertionswiththoseofhisfellow—creatures，andofactingincommonwiththem。Iamthereforeledtoconcludethattherightofassociationisalmostasinalienableastherightofpersonalliberty。Nolegislatorcanattackitwithoutimpairingtheveryfoundationsofsociety。
Nevertheless，ifthelibertyofassociationisafruitfulsourceofadvantagesandprosperitytosomenations，itmaybepervertedorcarriedtoexcessbyothers，andtheelementoflifemaybechangedintoanelementofdestruction。Acomparisonofthedifferentmethodswhichassociationspursueinthosecountriesinwhichtheyaremanagedwithdiscretion，aswellasinthosewherelibertydegeneratesintolicense，mayperhapsbethoughtusefulbothtogovernmentsandtoparties。
ThegreaterpartofEuropeanslookuponanassociationasaweaponwhichistobehastilyfashioned，andimmediatelytriedintheconflict。Asocietyisformedfordiscussion，buttheideaofimpendingactionprevailsinthemindsofthosewhoconstituteit:itis，infact，anarmy;andthetimegiventoparleyservestoreckonupthestrengthandtoanimatethecourageofthehost，afterwhichtheydirecttheirmarchagainsttheenemy。Resourceswhichliewithintheboundsofthelawmaysuggestthemselvestothepersonswhocomposeitasmeans，butneverastheonlymeans，ofsuccess。