Perhaps the most emphatic set of arguments against populist governments was written in the Federalist papers by Madison, Hamilton and Jefferson.
Federalist 10 summarizes the key reasons argued by the framers of the US Constitution.
James Madison Federalist No. 10 (1787) 1
"To the People of the State of New York:
AMONG the numerous advantages promised by a well-constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction. "[...]
By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community." [...]
The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest; secondly, the greater number of citizens, and greater sphere of country, over which the latter may be extended. "
The wisdom and foresight of the framers cannot be understated. Federalist 10 could have been written this morning. Save for the lack of people of such caliber and character.
But we still have Federalist 10 and the Constitution to continue working towards a more perfect Union.
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