The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-10-01

thlS country. lno>t TWO cRpcns arc
the prouslest in our National annals.
No patriotic American can recall the
names OF Jefferson and Jackson. and
the events ofthcir Administration with
out glow Of honest pride. And no
American who Is not al heart mon
archist. who is not in favor OF such
centraixation as invariably tends 70 the
one-nian power. fails 70 pay the tribute
Of sincere respect To those illusirious
Democrats ana the great works which
they and their influence wrought
Hated As they were ia their times.
visited with unstinted abuse. delugei
with callmny to an extent unknown in
the later half Of this century, they
have nevertheless taken their rightful
places ia history and in the respect OF
their conntrymen. No man now lues-
tions their ability. their integrity. their
patriotism. and there are very few vino
do not ccncede that the ideas to which
they We're devoted, the principles for
whose maintenance they breasted the
storm. We're not essential to the main
tenance If our institutions on the broad
and enduring basis Of "the utmost i'm
dividual liberty consistent with the
highest general welfare
Jefferson, the founder OF the Demo-
cratic party, and the men allied with
him. made bold and successful fight
against those monarchical principles.
which. under another name. came too
near mo- ding our Government into a
despotism. We get some idea Of the
influence of Old World institutions. Gus
toms and habits on the American mind
q century ago. when we read that il
was seriously proposed in I" the Con-
gress" TO fasten on the President the
awe-in>piring title Of His High Night
ness.
And even in the Constitution Of the
United States, after the confederate
system had proven failure and been
condemIed. we still see too much OF
that settled distrust Of the people which
many 81 the fathers entertained. Os-
tenslbly building the Government on
the right Of the majority TO rule. they
so constructed that minority may law
fully prevent the majority from ruling
for series OF years. rs has more than
once been demonstrated.
The veto power is another feature of
the anti-democratic, or monarchical
spirit. Ii i the one-man power in its
most offensive shape. and il we are not
prepared 70 admit that the majority
ought not to rule. this prerogative
should be 50 modified that majority
in Congress may make laws despite the
Executive.
The provisions for electing Presi-
dent and Vice President Of the United
States still more forcibly illustrate the
then prevailing fear that the people
would 20 wrong and destroy the Cow
eminent If they had chance. The
people were 10 select few very wise
and very good men who were to de-
eide, in their superior wisdom and vir-
tue. who should ill the two highest
offices in the Republic. 1t was not
deemed prudent to trust the common
people ~ select these officials. There
was to BE- an intermediate Authority to
save the people from the danger Of max
ing bad choice
Not against the individual features of
monarchy, or centralization--they are
same thing in effect but against its
spirit. Jefferson and his party rose up
TO fight They fought the good fight
and kept the faith. They vindicated
manhood They set up the rights Of the
people. They struck down the grow
ing danger Of the hour. They gave
the country strong impetus in the
right direction They made splendid
history.
When that sturdy patriot, Andrew
jackson. came to the front our Gov
eminent was being run. as the Repub-
lican party has run it, in the interest Of
capital as against labor. There was
corruption on every hand. The ruling
power In Congress, in the Cabinet and
in all the channels OF Government was
money. One great financial institu-
ton was the real controlling power.
jackson the bravcst man OF his age
and as pure patriot as ever welded
power, struck down the giant that had
usurped authority. In all his acts he
carried out the idea tina. this was a
Government OF the people, not OF a
CORPORATION, not the tool Of consoli-
dated cash. He believed in the people.
for he was one Of them. His Admins
tration i the pride Of all men who are
capable Of approaching genuine
Democracy when inspired By the lofti-
est patriotism and nerved BY the rcso-
luton D. hero.
The condition Of the country To- day
calls for another era like those which
we have noticed. Capitalization needs
suppression il our institutions are not
TO be radically and permanently chang
ed II the right Of the people to
manage their local concerns is not TO
be lost, not 10 become as extinct as the
dodo, the Democratic faith must be re-
asserted with Jetierson's directness and
vig0r
And, il the country Il not to be Mt
the mercy Of corporations and bond
holders, il labor is 10 have any chance
against the exactions Of canital. Il mo