The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-09-11

There are some Striking >lutlatitlc>
between the present political situation
and the situation Of affairs during Jefer.
sons first Presidential term.
Like the Republican party Of to-day.
the Fedcralists had been for some time
in power. They were largely identi-
fed. too. with tho successful leaders OF
the Revolution. with Washington and
Hamilton. and it, military heroes. just
a. the Republican party Is with Lincoln.
Grant and the heroes of the Civil War.
Like the Republican party. they were
allied with the more wealthy and aris-
focratic elements Of the day. and at
tracted 10 them the eNtravagant and the
ostentatious. II they did not despise
economy in the public service. they dis
regarded H. They disiained slmpli-
city. They preferred excessive and un-
necessary machinery in Government
They exaggerated as the party in
power i apt 70 do. the functions Of the
Federal Government. and belittled the
State Governments
Like the Republicans Of to-day the
Federalists believed that nearly one
half Of the people Of the United States
were incapable Of governing Scme OF
them looked with real. others with pre-
tended. horror az the prospect IF their
opponents getting control Of the Gov
eminent. They believed. a. the Re
publicans OF to day have believed. that
the country would rush 10 ruin ii their
rival placed his profane hand upon the
ark OF the Constitution. They had so
long looked upon themselves rs the Dir
vinely chosen and appointed rulers of
the people that they could not imagine
the possibility Of such calamitys ever
happening.
When il did happen the leaders and
spokesman Of the Federalists were wild
with rage. apprehension and disap-
poinsment Like the Republicans II
to-day they felt as II they had been
cheated out OF their birthrignr They
could not bring themselves TO admit
for moment that there was any hope
for a nation that had so far forgotten
itself and its history as 10 turn them out
Of rover and put their rivals in.
The success Of Jetfcrson's Admins
tration aggravated their misery. They
were so unreasonable that they alienated
their own followers. aud built up their
enemy's party. Mr. McMaSter. in his
second volume cf the History of the
People Of the United States. which has
just been published. j. unfriendly 70
Jefferson Although fair and just in his
statement Of facts. his sympathies seem
10 run with the Fedcralists rather than
with their opponents. OF extreme in
ferc-t Just now. therefore. in his review
OF the results Of the Feierali-t injustice
toward Jefferson. ending in their bitter
attack upon him for the Louisiana pur-
chase from the French He declares
that nothing so fully illustrates the low
state 20 which the once prosperous Fed
eraliSts were fallen q the turbulent and
factious opposition they now made TO
the acquisition Of Louisiana
But remnant Of the great party re
NAMED" he continues. tens Of thou
sands OF independent thinkers. 10 whom
good government was better than pol
itical strife. who were under the lash Of
no political chief. who believed that the
duty Of every honest man in the party
Of the minority was to uphold. not pull
down. the government Of the majority.
20 long as that government laborei for
the common good. had drawn of from
the party Of Hamilton. and now gave q
warm support to the Republican cause,
To them the Administration OF Jefferson
deserved support
They had seen promised reforms be-
come actual reforms They had seen
the Fcderalists add -. 0On.cDo 10 the
public debt in five years They had
seen the Republicans reduce the debt by
S5.O)o.O0O ia two years They had seen
the Federalists 90 10 the very limit Of
constitutional taxation in the Lowing Of
n direct tax. They had seen the Rcpub-
licans dry every source Of internal reve-
nue. and still have money TO spare.
Never had the Government been 50
smoothly, SO savingly carried On.
With such an Administration they
could find no fault Government by
the old friends OF Washington was not
worth the money wrung from the peo-
pie bv the grinding taxes X imposed
Not q State election. therefore. took
place out Of New England but showed
large Republican gains
The likeness between the Republican
irreconcilables Of to-day and Federal
irrrconcilables Of eighty years ago il
still further emphasized by the attitude
Of each toward the President in Office.
TO the narrow partisans who re-
NAMED In the Federal ranks. says the
historian. .the good which jefferson ac-
complished went for nothing. II was
maxim with them that nothing
which Thomas Jefferson did was right,
AMI that until the day came round
when they should again be placed in
power. the Government never would be
stable, the country never would be
safe. They ceased TO contend for
principle and began 70 contend for
place. They became mere obstruction
ists. a sect Of the political world which