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• Voltaire a Philosophical Dictionary Vol. Iv — Part I
• Cannibals.
• Casting (in Metal).
• Cato. On Suicide, and the Abbe St. Cyran’s Book Legitimating Suicide.
• Celts.
• Ceremonies—titles—precedence.
• Certain—certainty.
• Chain of Created Beings.
• Chain Or Generation of Events.
• Changes That Have Occurred In the Globe.
• Character. [from the Greek Word Signifying Impression, Engraving.—it Is What Nature Has Engraved In Us.]
• Charity. Charitable and Beneficent Institutions, Almshouses, Hospitals, Etc.
• Charles IX.
• China.
• Christianity.
• Christmas.
• Chronology.
• Church.
• Church of England.
• Church Property.
• Cicero.
• Circumcision.
• Clerk—clergy.
• Climate.
• Coherence—cohesion—adhesion.
• Commerce.
• Common Sense.
• Confession.
• Confiscation.
• Conscience.
• Consequence.
• Constantine.
• Contradictions.
• Contrast.
• Convulsionaries.
• Corn.
• Councils. Meetings of Ecclesiastics, Called Together to Resolve Doubts Or Questions On Points of Faith Or Discipline.
• Voltaire a Philosophical Dictionary Vol. Iv — Part Ii
• Country.
• Crimes Or Offences.
• Criminal.
• Cromwell.
• Cuissage.
• Curate (of the Country).
• Curiosity.
• Customs—usages.
• Cyrus.
• Dante.
• David.
• Decretals.
• Deluge (universal).
• Democracy.
• Demoniacs.
• Destiny.
• Devotee.
• Dial. Dial of Ahaz.
• Dictionary.
• Diocletian.
• Dionysius, St. (the Areopagite), and the Famous Eclipse.
• Diodorus of Sicily, and Herodotus.
• Director.
• Disputes.
• Distance.
• Divinity of Jesus.
• Divorce.
• Dog.
• Dogmas.
• Donations.
• Drinking Healths.
• The Druids.
• Ease.
• Eclipse.
• Economy (rural).
• Economy of Speech— to Speak By Economy.
• Elegance.
• Elias Or Elijah, and Enoch.
• Eloquence.
• Emblems. Figures, Allegories, Symbols, Etc.
• Enchantment. Magic, Conjuration, Sorcery, Etc.
• End of the World.
• Enthusiasm.
• Envy.
• Epic Poetry.
• Epiphany. the Manifestation, the Appearance, the Illustration, the Radiance.
• Equality.
• Essenians.
• Eternity.
• Eucharist.
• Execution.
• Executioner.
• Expiation. Dieu Fit Du Repentir La Vertu Des Mortels.
• Extreme.
• Ezekiel. of Some Singular Passages In This Prophet, and of Certain Ancient Usages.
• Fable.
• Faction. On the Meaning of the Word.
• Faculty.
• Faith.
• Falsity.
• Falsity of Human Virtues.

FACTION.

On the Meaning of the Word.

The word “faction” comes from the Latin “facere”; it is employed to signify the state of a soldier at his post, on duty (en faction), squadrons or troops of combatants in the circus; green, blue, red, and white factions.

The acceptation in which the term is generally used is that of a seditious party in the state. The term “party” in itself implies nothing that is odious, that of faction is always odious.

A great man, and even a man possessing only mediocrity of talent, may easily have a party at court, in the army, in the city, or in literature. A man may have a party in consequence of his merit, in consequence of the zeal and number of his friends, without being the head of a party. Marshal Catinat, although little regarded at court, had a large party in the army without making any effort to obtain it.

A head of a party is always a head of a faction; such were Cardinal Retz, Henry, duke of Guise, and various others. A seditious party, while it is yet weak and has no influence in the government, is only a faction.

Cæsar’s faction speedily became a dominant party, which swallowed up the republic. When the emperor Charles VI. disputed the throne of Spain with Philip V. he had a party in that kingdom, and at length he had no more than a faction in it. Yet we may always be allowed to talk of the “party” of Charles VI.

It is different with respect to private persons. Descartes for a long time had a party in France; it would be incorrect to say he had a faction. Thus we perceive that words in many cases synonymous cease to be so in others.