Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-12-08
Nanrastcr ft,telIlse,lrer.
WEDNESDAY EVENING. DEC. 8. 1880.
Je6ersOnian Associations.

EVENING, DEC. g, 1890. |
JeffersOnian Associations.
The idea has been broached in several
quarters, and we observe that it has been
put into practical operation in York
a citadel of Democratic strength,
that the Democracy should organize
into local Jeffersonian asso-
Citations, with a view to reviving the
study of Jefferson's political principles
and securing the application of them to
political action. The idea, SO far as we
can gather it from the promoters of
the scheme and from their papers which
the INTELLIGENCER has republished, is
that the leaders of Democratic thought
in every community shall associate them
selves in local societies which have no
ulterior purpose except the promotion of
such political principles. 1t is not in
tended to usurp or interfere with the
functions of the regular party Organiza-
tions. They are to go Oh as before, in
their own way, and subject to the es-
tablished rules and customs of the party
in each county or district. But the sue
cess or failure of these must in a large
measure depend upon the moral tone of
the party of which they are the agents.
To give such tone to the party is the
Office of the proposed JeffersOnian asso-
Citations, and if they follow out the
principles Of the statesman whose
honOred name they bear, their influence
cannot fail to be salutary.
The Democratic party has always won
by strict adherence to Jeffersonian prin-
ciples. 1t generally fails by departing
from them so that us a matter Of expe-
diency the more strongly its Organiza-
tion is impressed with them the better
fitted it will be to cope efficiently with
the adversary and to regain control of
public affairs. But im Il wider and more
patriotic view the present is timely
season for the revival of JefferSOniar
principles. Mr.. Garfield is IN avOwed
adherent of the principles of Alexander
Hamilton. He has made public occasion
to extol them and to express his views
that the influence of Jefferson was Oh
the wane. Mr.. Garlield's election If.
fOrds some reason, we admit for such con.
fidence, and the greater reason why the
rising generation needs to be informed
of the notably different principles which
contended for supremacy in the Organi
Zation of our government, and out O
which contention the JeffcrsOnian idea
came victorious and approved, to guide
the country safely for three-quarters oI
i century. Under the guidance of these
principles alone our constitutional forms
are safe. For they point to an even
and correct balance of the just powers 81
the federal government, the rights of the
states and tile liberties of the people
The HamiltOiian or modern Re
publican idea runs to an eNtin
guishment of state rights and popu
lar liberties, and in the direction O
more " splendid expansion of federal
powers, the creation of favored classes
of chartered moropolies and IN office
holding aristOcracy.
The Democratic party has time an,
occasion to take \ fresh departure, o
rather to make speedy return to the oil
ways. 1t is in the position of power
.ful minority i'm the government, withor
the responsibilities of shaping govern
mental policy, and is in the same eXce
lent position to take advantage of th
mistakes of the national administrations a
when John -idams's administration W.,
made so unpopular rs to admit of tn
succession of jefferson and the TRUMP
of Jeffersonian principles. The best st
luton of the question of civil service re
form now pressing to the front, is the ~
plicition TO candidates Of the Jefferson
ian tests of fitness and honesty. If Je1
fersonian associations were organize
everywhere to insist Oh these, they wOui
speedily absorb the great mass of Iii
party ina fresh, pure, popular DenOcra,
ic organization. Their influence wOul
speedily be felt upon the Democrat
machine and instead of that bein
prostituted to tie service of piace-hant
ers we mi ght again have offices huntin
men lit to fill them. There would l
less of the unseemly and disastrous strii
for the control of the organization, frcl
which we have suffered so mucl
after it came to be recognized tia
the organization, the nominations AM
the campaign management must all L
subordinated to controlling popular d.
mand for fit ana honest men in all pull
tic positions. The man who will labt
individuality or by association and cO-oI
eration with those of like purposes,
hold kis party to correct principles IN
good nominations, will DO more to wi
victories for it than unscrupulous work
ers for the "ticket" or the most liber;
subscribers to the campaign fund,
when the party is weighted with ba
candidates and poor platforms.
FlOgging Criminals.
g Mr. Henry Bergh is against crue