New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-07
REPUBLICAN, PRINCIPLES TRULY JET
FERSONIAN.
The Democraoy profess to hate and fear

on the contrary, like strong government
that emanates from the people. In this
they are like MIR. Jefferson, the great
apostle OF Democracy in the early days of
| the republic. The Democrats of the
present day, in their war upon Republican
government, frequently allude to Mr.. JEFF
ferson as the great advocate of State
rights and opponent Of the exercise of su-
preme power by the general government.
This question can be settled best by re-
ferring to the printed works of this great
and good man. He was first elected Pres
ident in 1900 and on the fourth of March,
1901, took the oath of Office and was in
augurated President of the United States.
In the December following he transmitted
his first message to the national Congress-,
and from that remarkable document we
make the following extract for the benefit
of Democrats of the present day:
During the contest of opinion through
which we have passed, the animation of
discussions and OF exertions has sometimes
worn an aspect which might impose on
strangers, unused to think freely, and to
speak and to write what they think: but
this being now decided by the voice of the
nation, announced according to the rules of
the constitution. all will, of course arrange
themselves under the will of the law, and
unite in common efforts for the common
good. All, too, will bear in mind this sacred
principle, that though the will of the major
lty is, IN all cases, to prevail, that will, to be
rghtful, must be reasonable-that the min
GRITTY possess their equal rights. which equal
laws must protect, and to violate would be
oppression. Let us, then, fellow citizens,
unite with one heart and one mind. Let
us restore to social intercourse that har-
mOny and affection without which liberty
and even life itself, are but dreary things;
and let us reflect that, having banished
from our land that religious intolerance I'M
der which mankind so long bled and suf- |
fered, we have yet gained little. if we coun-
tenance political intolerance, as despOtic, |
as wicked, and capable of as bitter and |
bloody prosecutions.
During the throes and commissions of the |
ancient world; during the agonizing spasms
of infatuated man, seeking through blood
and slaughter his long lost liberty. it was
not wonderful that the agitation of the bill
lows should reach even this distant and
peaceful shore; that this should be more
felt and feared by some and less by others,
and should divide opinions as to measures
of safety. But every difference of opinion
is not difference of principle. We have
called by different names brethren of the
same principle. We are all Republicans,
we are all Federalists. If there be any
among lis who would wish to dissolve this
Union, Or to change its republican form, let
them stand undisturbed as monuments of
the safety with which error of opinion may
be tolerated, where reason is left free to
hot = IL L
est men fear that Republican government
can not be strong-that this government
is not strong enough. But would the honest
patriot, in the full tide of successful expert
ment, abandon a government which has so
far kept us free and firm, on the theoretic
and visionary fear that this government,
the worlds best hope, may, by possibility,
want energy to preserve itself! | trust not.
believe this, on the contrary, the strongest
government on the earth. / believe it the
1nly one where every man, at the call of the
aw, would Fly TO the standard of the law,
and would meet invasions of the public
order as his own personal concern. Some
lines it is said that man can not be truste1
With the government of himself Can he
hen be trusted with the government of
,thers, or have we found angels in the form
u kings to govern himf Let history answer
his question.
We believe with Mr.. Jefferson that this
hould be strong government, and since
is administration has been intrusted by
he people to Republican hands, it has
'roved a strong government, at least
trong enough to preserve the integrity of
he country; strong enough to crush out
ebellion and extend the area of freedom;
trong enough to enforce equal civil and
oltical rights to all citizens, without
distinction of wealth, color or previous
ondition; strong enough to secure to
very voter his right to peaceably cast his
allot. In the language of Mr.. jefferson,
let us, then, with courage and conf
ence, pursue our own federal and repub-
can principles-our attachments to
Mon and representative government.
indy separated by nature and a wide.
,ean from the discriminating havoc of
de-quarter of the globe-too high-minded
} endure the degradations of. others
a chosen country, with
'om enough for our descendants
the thousandth and ten-thousandth 4
neration-entertainin a due sense of h
II equal right to the use of our facul- =
es-to the acquisitions of our own in i,
lstry-to honor and confidence from our a
low-citizens; resulting not from birth, Il
1t from our actions, and their sense of a
em-enlightened by a benign religion, ?
ofessed, indeed and practiced in F
rious forms, yet all of them intoxicating k
nesty, truth, temperance, gratitude and n
love of man-acknowledging and 81
oring an overruling Providence, which, u
all its dispensations, proves that it de- cl
hts in the happiness of man here, and fl
greater happiness hereafter n
these blessings, what more is b.
cessary to make us happy u,
d prosperous people? Still one thing Ii
re. A wise and frugal government, Ii
ich shall restrain men from injuring y,
g another, shall leave them otherwise tr
e to regulate their own pursuits of in Sc Sc
stry and improvement, and shall not W
e from the mouth of labor the bread he
earned. This is the sum of good gov 40
lment, and this is necessary to close the m
Gle Of our felicities." 49,
The Republican party indorses every wi
rd that the apostle of Democracy has Pc
d. II ne were living in our midst at wi
present time he rnuld NOT 1ra,,o ro,,o