Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-08-04


night, gives warming that the wolf is
upon ms walk again" 1t was the
voluntary local associations the yigi.
lance committees, the committees Of
correspondence, which lent the strong.
est impulse to the revolution and Il
was the voice Of the people rising in
thunder tones through the many
throats Of the Democratic Societie.b
which struck terror 10 the hearts Of
the Fcderalists in 1900. The popular
club IS the chosen engine Of liberty
everywhere; and the Jetcrsonian
club, planted in every neighborhood,
is the one thing nccdful to "rousc the
people" as aforctimc they were reused
by Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin.
Shall we not take this leaf also from
the handbook Of freedom which comes
down 10 Us from the author of the
Declaration Of Independence and the
founder Of the Democratic party ?"
As hc lay dying, on the Sd Of July,
1926, his mighty intellect, half re-
leased from its embarrassment Of flesh,
reverted fondIy to this system Of pop.
ular machinery for the security Of
popular rights. Fancying the strug-
gle again in progress, he cried out,
Warn the committees ~ and rising in
the bed he seemed to be tracing with
eager but -hrunkcn hand a despatch
To the embodied patriots. These were
almost his last words. The next day
being the Fourth, and the ffticth an
niycr.ary Of the Declaration, be pass
ed away at high noon, and in the very
hour Of IT, adoption. When be shall
have "wancd,' when his teachings
shall have lost their influence, when
his memory shall haye ceased to be
dear, the free institutions Of America
will be 20 more.
Mr.. Jefferson had scientific mind
Of the highest order, and he gave TO
his doctrines the simplest and clcarc,t
cXpo-j,iou- OF which they were capa.
bic. such cXpo.iiiou., precise and
beautiful, at once exact and c0mprc-
hcu-iyc, are found scattered through
ont biz political writing. The most
familiar are those IN the first iuaugu-
raj. and in the letter 10 Mr.. Gerry p.
267, VOL (, Of hi- works. The fol-
lowing brief statement comprises the
whole y-,cm
The tenth amendment Of the con.
.ti,u,ion j. an iuNeNib.c rule of con.
.,rur'ion, the sacred and comprchcn-
-iyc guarantee Of American liberty.
The support Of the State govern.
moui- in al their right, a the most
competent administrations for our do-
me.uc concern, aud The -urc.t bull.
wark- against auii-rapublican tenden.
clc. the pre-erya'Jgu Of the general
In d., whole constitutional
yig5r q. the -hcg, anchor Of our peace
at home aud safety abroad.
An honest administration of the
government, which implie- not merely
a just application Of the public mon
oys t. the public service, but a faith.
iul observance of the limitations Of
the constitution. OF applicants for
Office three questions only need be
asked is he honest; l. be capable?
l. be faithful to the constitution -
\ number Of officials sufficient for
the transaction Of the public busi.
ness no supcrnumeraries to eat out
the substance Of the people.
4 diplomatic establishment limited
to the public necessities, nothing for
parade nothing for patronage
\ sleepless jealousy of standing
armies mcrcenary force always
dangerous to liberty; the military
embodiment Of the people in the State
the surcst safeguard Of public peace
and domestic rights.
The money collected by taxation to
be expended only on the object speci.
fed in the constitution. 1t may not
be distributed to favorites in the form
of bountics or Of subsidies. nor given
away in charity. lie urged the State
Of Virginia to be liberal toward the
San Domingo sufferers, but he denied
the right Of Congress to grant them a
dollar.
Economy in the public expenditures,
not only that the people may be light.
ly burdencd, but that the purity Of
the administration may be preserved
Extravaganza Is the parent of cor
ruption, and corruption is the parent
Of usurpation. a public thief is
public enemy. Daring the eight years
Of his administration there was not
even an Indian war, simply because
there was no swindle TO provoke one.
Every word of promise was kept, and
every dollar was sacredly applied to
the purpose for which it had been APP
propriatcd.
No power in the general govern
ment to lay one class Of citizens under
tribute TO another; duties levied for
revenue, and determinations permissi.