What do each of these paragraphs mean?

Question

I need to write about them but I don't even understand them.

James Madison - In every political society, parties are unavoidable. A difference of interests, real or supposed, is the most natural and fruitful source of them. The great object should be to combat the evil: (1) by establishing a political equality among all; (2) by withholding unnecessary opportunities from a few to increase the equality of property by an immoderate, and especially an unmerited accumulation of riches; (3) by the silent operation of laws, which, without violating the rights of property, reduce extreme wealth toward a state of mediocrity and raise extreme indigence [poverty] toward a state of comfort; (4) by abstaining from measures which ... favor one interest at the expense of another; (5) by making one party a check on the other.... If this is not the language of reason, it is that of republicanism.

Robert Goodloe Harper - While opposite parties in the Government struggle for preeminence, they are like persons engaged in an exhibition before the public, who are obliged to display superior merit and superior excellence in order to gain the prize. The republic is the judge and that party which possesses power must employ it properly, must conduct the government wisely, in order to insure public approval and retain their power. In this competition, while the two parties draw different ways, a middle course is produced generally comformable to public good.