Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-03-16

or poor devils; nor politics controlled
by bosses assisted by pugilists and bar
keepers. lie wished TO see at the head
of governments the flower of the hu.
man race. lie wished To see cities
governed by men who had proved
their capability by having succeeded
in business for themselves. We can
tell with certainty what kind Of men
he would now wish to see in Office,
whether federal, state, or municipal,
by recalling the men chosen by himself
when he held the appointing power.
Every member Of his cabinet was II
liberalIy educated man, and he chose
persons of proved ability for employ.
ments demanding men Of business.
lie hated the hereditary principle
because, as he said, at hcaped impor.
tance upon idiots" The boss system
does the same, and hence, | am bound
to conclude, he would have hated that,
if he had lived to see it developed.
wish your society great prosperity
and success. Thomas Jefferson he.
quealhcd to us immortal principles; 1t
is our humber part to create methods
Tor giving those principles effect. The
nation has not become corrupt; it has
simply grown very large and very
rich, We have To adjust our politics
to larger conditions, and apply Jefer.
-onan principles to the government of
a vast aud growing empire. In this
arduous work | trust your society will
bear part. Respectfully yours,
JAMS PARTON.
Alta regular meeting Of the Jefferson
democratic association of York, Feb.
ruury y, 1882, it was resolved A:
That this Association desires and
invites the fullest and freest discussion
of the doctrines of Thomas Jefferson /;
that We hail it with pleasure, from
whatever source it may come; whcth-
er from the friends of federal cousuI.
/ datiou, or the advocates OF local lib.
erty; whether from federalists, impcri
alist, so.caIled republican or honest
democrat relyiug firmly, rs. did Mr.
Jefferson himself, upon the virtue aud
/ intelligence of the people, certain that
whenever the issue between the bless
lugs OF home.rule, aud the deadly evils
oi Capitalization shall be fairly under
stood, they will decide promptly aud
wisely n they did in the years 1900
aud 1876.
We gratefully acknowledge the able
and interesting letter which Mr.. Par
ton, the distinguished bingrapher OF
jefferson, has kindly added to the
/ literature OF the association, aud We
commend it to the thoughtful attention
Of men OF all parties, who are prcpar.
ell to sacrifice merely partisan consld.
eratlons, aud sever merely partisan
ties, to save the constitution OF 1887
/ from threatened subversion, and the
erection OF what is euphemistically
called strong government on the
I ruins.
But while we heartily concur in the
main with Mr.. Partun's deductions
from the system OF Jefferson, and adj.
mire his lucid and fofcible application
of fundamental principles to the exist
| ing situation. We are not To be under.
stood a. agreeing with him throughout.
! We hold. Tor instance, aud we believe
Mr.. Jefferson, who maintaining that
/ frugaliiy, economy and simplicity,
were the great essentials of republican
government. would have held with rs,
that our public servants are as a rule
well paid and that many OF them are
greatly ovcrpaid. We got better,
more faithful and more honest service
/ from them. when salaries were low.
than since they have been raised in
the general rot OF federal centraliza.
/ iiou aud extravaganza aud five we're
called upon to vote for a change. we
would favor. not an increase. but re-
duciion. That Mr.. JcfIcrsnn in the
single isolated case of Mr.. Monroe, re.
grstted his inability to compensate
him for an extraordinary public ser.
] VICE HtTlhIllFN ~ hll fAlIthfblNdfN
/ private sacrifice, is true; but it dues
not follow that he even then consider.
ell the ordinary pay of public officials
| for ordinary services le-s than il ought
to have been. 1t was in those days OF
Jefftrsonian simplicity, aud truly re-.
publican salaries. that men stood rea.
DIV to serve the country ut private
loss. We see nothing like it now
when salaries have grown large enough
to tempt cupidity, and oificesare made
the spuils and rewards Of partisan work.
Instead of that spectacle-Jcdersou
adjuring Monroe to 60 serve his coun.
try, practically without pay--we see a
fe,leralist congress voting a retired
civilian, already overloaded with gra.
tuities, a mere gift of ten thousand
dollars annually, instead of directing
proper proceeding to be instituted for