The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1889-04-05


One hundred and iorty-slx years ago
to-day Thomas Jefferson, the third prcsi.
dent Of the United States. was born. II
would be assuming our readers to be
ignorant Of the history OF the struggles OF
our iorefsthers for liberty now to 20 over
the carly history OF Thomas Jefferson.
Suffice Tito say that he was one OF the very
greatest of those devoted lovers OF liberty
who pledged ",heir lives. their fortunes
and their sacred honor" to lhatcau which
led to the Independence and building up
Of one Of the strongest and best govern
ments exlant. No man had a more com.
prehensive nor clearer view of the essen.
tial principles Of our government that Mr..
Jefferson. On being inducted into the
Office Of president MFR. Jefferson, devia,ing
from the example of his predecessors,
transmitted to Congress written message
instead of delivering speech In person.
This message was a remarkable document,
In this, that Il set forth In the narrowest
compass and with great clearness and pre-
eision of language the essential principles
that form the superstucture Of our gov.
ernment, as follows: "Equal and exact
justice to all men OF whatever state or per
suaslon, religious OF political peace, com.
merce and honest friendship with all nations
entangllng alliances with none the sup
port Of the state governments, In all their
rights, as the most competent admlnistra-
tons for our domestic concerns, aud the
surest bulwarks against anti-republican
tendencies the preservation Of the general
government, In It's whole constitutional
vigor, as the sheet anchor of our peace at
home and safety abroad jealous care Of
the right Of election by the people, amid
aud safe corrective OF abuses, which are
Topped by the sword of revolution, where
peaceable remedies are unprovided abso.
lutte acquiesccnce In the decisions of the
majority, the vital principle of republics,
from which there Is no appeal but to force,
the vital principle and immediate parent Of
despotlsm a well-discipliped militia, our
best reliance In peace, and for the first mo-
ments of war, .ili regulars may relieve
them the supremacy of the civil over the
military authority economy In the public
expense. that labor may be lightly burden
ed the honest payment of our debts, and
sacred preservation of the public faith !;
encouragement of agriculture, and OF COM
meree as It's handmade the diffusion Of
Information and arrangement Of all abuses
at the bar OF the public reason I; freedom
of religion, freedom Of the press, and free
dom of the person, under the projection Of
the kaboas corfEs and Trial by juries Inn
I partially selected. These principles form
the bright constellation which has gone
before us, and guided our steps through an
age OF revolution and reformation" With
out referring 10 the declaration Of indepen-
dence and the many other productions
from the pen Of Mr.. Jefferson the above
alone Is sufficient to stamp him as the very
greateat statesman Of his day, and, in fact,
the greatest In the history of the country
whose veal he so well subserved. No
vonder, then, that democrats revere this
day, as the one that gave birth to so grca,
man. All over the country to-day evi.
deaees Of the reverence and high esteem
In which he Is held will be manifested. II
were we'll 10 do so.