Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-01-12
Christmas Politics.


means that all men should be equal
before the law as they are equal be-
fore God !; equal not merely in their
rights to life and limb, but in their
right to labor as they see fit, and to
enjoy the fruits of their own endeavors.
The Sermon on the Mount, and the
Declaration of American Independence
contain the same self.evident truths.
But they have had hard and long
struggle to get themselves placed on
the human statute book, and to be
kept there after they were enacted.
eternal vigilance is the price of lib
erty." We make a little advance, and
then, if we relax our efforts in the
least, we straightway lose more than
we had gained. Ambition, greed, the
love of dominion, and the lust of
money unearned, never sleep. 1t is
not within the scope of an article like
this to sketch this struggle, or even to
allude to any of its incidents beyond
the limits of our own fortunate coun-
try. But what have we seen here?
Thomas Jefferson was the great
apostle of human liberty on this con-
tinent. He proposed TO start all men
in the race of life upon footing of
perfect equality and to give no man
any illegal advantage over another.
In Virginia he broke down the estab-
lished church; repealed the law of
primogeniture and of entails; reduced
the government to pure democracy I;
and would, if he could, have abolished
negro slavery, concerning the conse-
quences of which to his own race he
trembled, when he thought of the JUS
tice of God. He was also the protector
of a system Of popular education,
which was far in advance of the times
in which he lived, and We beg the
young reader to remember the fact
when he hears some brawling dema-
gogue claiming the credit of the com
mon school system for party which
was born yesterday, and was born then
only to take up the cause of the few
against the many where Thomas Jefier.
sons ancient enemies were forced 10
drop it.
But Mr.. Jefftrson's great work of
"good will to men," did not stop there.
Virginia was free-free of the hoary
abuses of monarchy and aristocracy-
and his declaration of independence
having been sustained by arms, the
colonies were independent states. But
now arose an enemy more dangerous
than the British crown beyond seas
had ever been. 1t was new and press
ing, subtle and insidious. 1t came in
the guise of patriotism and lured the
people by promises of national power
and glory. The party of which Alex
ander Hamilton was then the head
would have extinguished the States
and set up for general government
practical monarch con the British
models" Failing in that, they have
ever since been endeavoring to con-
strue away the constitution which our
wise forefathers gave Us, and to estab-
lish what they call "a strong govern
ment," with no limitations but the
pleasure or necessities of the admins
tration. They wanted debts, mono
poles, standing armies, class distine-
tions, splendor and confusion. They
assaulted the constitution with their
impudent doctrine Of "implied pow
ers )" they undermine it by corrup.
ton, and would have overthrown it by
fraud and force had they been able.
But Mr.. Jefferson founded a great
party to protect and defend the con-
stitution, and he led it with singular
prudence aud devotion until the feder-
alists were turned out of power, neck
and heels, in 1900. His memorable
and glorious administration, and the
Administrations Of his democratic sue
cessors, constituted the golden age of
the republic. The party which Mr..
Jefferson founded and inspired, and
which he trusted would stand through
all the ages like wall of fire around
the free institutions of America, re-
mains to-day what it was then. Its
principles are unaltered. 1t says the
federal government must be admins.
tered according to the plain letter of
the written charter. Such govern
ment as the administrations of defer
son and his disciples demonstrated, is
pure, simple and inexpensive. II pro-
tactz aII while IL harma noua TIA
blessings encompass US like sunshine,
its burdens are unfelt. IL creates no
monopoly. The power of taxation is
used only to support the government,
and to provide for the "few objects"
of federal care, prescribed in the writ
ten constitution. It cannot be en-
ployed to transfer the proceeds Of one
mans labor TO another or TO exact
tribute from one class of citizens in
order to enrich another. These are
the benefcent doctrines of democracy,
eNas A 4 r ~