From a Wall Street Journal editorial earlier this summer by Ron Chernow, author of 'Washington: A Life'.
"Like other founders, Washington prayed that the country would be spared the bane of political parties, which were then styled "factions." Washington knew that republics, no less than monarchies, were susceptible to party strife. Indeed, he believed that in popularly elected governments, parties would display their "greatest rankness" and emerge as the "worst enemy" to the political system. By expressing narrow interests, parties often thwarted the popular will. In Washington's view, enlightened politicians tried to transcend those interests and uphold the commonweal. He was so opposed to anything that might savor of partisanship that he refused to endorse congressional candidates, lest he seem to be meddling."
