Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-06-01
Elementary Democracy.
30 n.

no. v.
Thomas Jefferson, elected President
under the name OF Republican in 1900,
is properly regarded as the apostle Of
American Democracy and the founder
of the Democratic party. In his in.
augural address he thus summarizes
the principles of our government,
which principles have ever been and
ever should be the landmarks of the
party he established:
/. Equal and exact justice to all men Of what
ever state or persuasion, religious or political.
2. Peace, commerce and honest friendship with
all nations; entAnglihg alliance with none.
8. The support Of the State governments in all
their rights the most competent administrators Of
our domestic concerns, and the surest bulwarks
against anti-Repubtcan tendencies.
4. Thepreseration Of the general government in
Its whole constitutional vgor the sheet anchor OF
our peace at home, and safety abroad.
5. A jealous care of the right Of election by the
people, mild and safe corrective Of abuses, which
Topped by the sword revolution where peaceabe
means are unprovided.
6. Absolute acquieecence In the decisions Of the
majority, the vital principles Of republics from which
is no appeal but to force, the vital principle and
Immediate parent of despotism.
Z. well-dsciplined militia, our best reliance in
peace, and for the first moments of war; till regulars
may relieve them. 5Ft
8. The supremacy Of the civil over the military
authority.
may be lightly burthened.
10. The honest payment of our debts, and the
| sacred preservation of the public faith.
IL. Encouragement OF agriculture, and Of com
merce as its handmade.
H. The diffusion of information, and arraisnment
of all abuses at the bar ofpublic reason.
Is. Freedom of religion.
IL. Freedom of the press.
| is. Freedom Of the person, under the protection
of the hdbeds corpus.
| l6 Trial by juries impsrtially selected.
These principles, said Jefferson,
"form the bright constellation, which
has gone before us, and guided our
steps through the age of revolution
and reformation. The wisdom of ouI
sages, and the blood of our heroes
have been devoted to their attainment
They should be the creed of our politi
cal faith, the text of civic instruction
the touchstone by which to try the
services of those we trust; and should
we wander from them in moments o.
error or alarm, let us hasten to reti ac,
our steps, and to regain the road which
alone leads to peace, liberty and safe
ty.'
Governor Morris, who, upon th'
completion of the Constitution, wa
asked his opinion Of it, replied: "Tha
depends upon how it is construed.
In the construction of the fundamental
law the greatness of Jefferson appears
We quote from recent letter writer
Uy Oduuol y. lllueH.
"After the organization Of the Federal Governmer
apowerful class sought to impress upon its practic,
working the similitude Of the British system. Nj
Jefferson the great leader Of the party formed
resist these efforts and to hold institutions to th
popular character which was understood to belon
to them when the Constitution was ratified by tn
people. Byhis inhexble adherence to free principles
by his untirfng efforts by his counsels and by th
magic of his pen, he was the principal agent in
cung from IFS greatest peril and while yet in its ii
fancy, the Government by the people and for ii
people, The arduous contest resulted in the poht
cal revolution which brought Mr.. Jefferson into Il
Presidency. He put the ship Of state, to use h
own expression, upon the Republican tack;''
arrested the centralizing tendencies he invgorat'
local self-government, restored the rights OF u
state, and projected and enlarged the domain Of Il
diyidual Judgment and conscience. For eight yea
he administered the Government, and for sixties
years IL was administered by his pupils under h
, observation and advice. Thus was established
l habit which largely shaped the standards for u
guidance Of popular Judgment, the modes of thin
ing statesmen, and the general course of the Cover
ment for sixty years. How important such habi
arewill be appreciated when we consider that usur
alton has been successfully accomplished In 9th
l countries by men welding executive power, al
: when we are reminded that Jefferson sincere
, feared Hamilton, who thought our Government
"frail and worthless fabric' and would chsnge it
he came into power, and when we also recall the ia
that Hamilton himself has left on record his bell
{ that Burr wenid have wrought personal usurpatic
) | II he could have grasped the Presidency.
sMr. Jefferson gave to our administrative syste
an aspect Of republican simplicity, repressed jobbe
as well all perversons Of power, and, by his pr
/. cepts his influence and his example, elevated d
standard of political morals. In his personal pra
tice he was not only pure, but to make his examp
more effective, he refrained, while administering y
greatest Of ofcial trusts, from al attempts to ii
crease his own fortune, even BY methods open
/ every private citizen"
8 Had Hamilton triumphed in h
!. views and construction of the Const
! tuition, the Executive mantle woul
:. never have rested on humble.shoulder
! none but scions of American aristo'
!, fracy, founded upon wealth, woul
: ever have filled the Presidential chai
: The doors would have been close
I against such plebeians as Jacksol
4 Lincoln, johnson and Garfield, an
they would indeed have been fortunat
1 to have reached the lower house (