The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-03-21
JeRerson's Birthday.

AAO0' Ond0nS0J r. 0AoCA1 AOoANOHS
of the National Association of Dem
ocratic clubs, makes the suggestion
that Democratic clubs and societies
throughout the Union celebrate the
approaching birthday april 2nd)
Of Thomas Jefferson Gin some man
ner suitable to the great occasion. !"
The suggestion is one that should be
adopted and carried out by all Dem
ocrstic associations.
The principles of government
taught by Jefferson and practiced by
him when in public Office are not so
well understood and therefore not
SO generally accepted as they ought
to be by people which believes it.
self devoted to Republican institu-
tons. AS he was the founder of
Republicanism in this country his
doctrines ought to be familiar as q
twice-told tale to every man who
claims to be true Republican. JEFF
ferson was the inveterate foe of a
centralized government and the arch
defender of popular rights. His
Republicanism was therefore derisive
ly styled Democracy" by the cen
tralizing "Federalists Of his day
whose purposes he defeated and
whose theories he overthrow. But
in later years, as ex-President Gar
field admitted, the principles of the
Republican Jefferson have been los
ing ground while the doctrines of
the Federalist Hamilton have been
gaining. Power has been gradually
slipping away from the people and
concentrating in the general govern
ment. This tendency is to be de-
plored by all who sincerely desire
and hope for the prosperity of the
Republic.
1t is not necessary to assume the
attitude of an alarmist to put the
people on their guard against peril
which, though it may seem remote,
was regarded by the trainers of the
Federal constitution as likely to be
encountered at any time in the pro
baton of the system they adopted.
Indeed it so menaced the country
during the first twelve years after the
adoption of the Federal constitution
that but for the patriotism of Wash
iugton and the wisdom and frmness
OF Jefferson the danger would not
have been averted. So long as a
strict construction of the constitu.
ton shall be the rule with those who
make and execute the laws the reserv
ed rights of the people will be secure,
but no longer. Jefferson was the
first strict constructionist and his
Interpretation of the constitution has
been followed by a long line of sue
cessors in the Presidential Office, but
was discarded at viii by Presidents
Republicans in name but centralizers
in fact. The facts are historical and
indisputable. The sufferance of the
American people-their determine
ton to ''bear the ills they have rather
than to fly to those they know moi
of"-alone has preserved the peace
of the country. But there is peace
full remedy for every evil that may
arise under Republican government
It is the education of the people II
sound and true Republican princi
pies which the enemies of free Re
public in Jeferson's time derided al
Democratic vagaries-and there
is no better school for their inculca
ton than the Democratic club Oh
society with the study of the doc
trines Of the Sage of Monticello al
the beginning, the middle and th'
end of the curriculum.
The shortest canal, and at the same
time one of the most important, ii