Final answer:
Alexander Hamilton's writing warns of the dangers of political factions using inflammatory rhetoric to gain supporters and malign opponents, highlighting the need for a strong federal system to avoid instability and promote the public good.
Step-by-step explanation:
The excerpt from Alexander Hamilton’s writing in 1787 reflects the contentious nature of political discourse during the early years of the American republic. Hamilton anticipated that political factions would attempt to sway public opinion through loud and bitter rhetoric, rather than through the merit of their ideas. He warned that zealous advocates for a strong, efficient government might be unjustly labeled as tyrannical, while those with excessive concern for the rights of the people, which he suggests is more often an error of logic than of intent, might use this pretense as bait for popularity, disregarding the public good.
Hamilton was addressing the issue of the dangers of factions and the need for a system that could mitigate their negative impact on governance. The Federalist Papers, which include Hamilton's writings, argued for a strong federal government to avoid the instability seen in governments that succumbed to factional disputes. This framing was crucial in influencing the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and the development of the American political system.