, 1890-03-23
CELEBRATE 1T.
%JeffersOn's Birthday Should be OBJ
served in Wyoming.
The Principles which He Laid
Down for Party Guidance.
They Are the Actuating Motives of
True Democracy Today.
To the Editor of The Leader.

To the Editor OF The Leader.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., March 22.-Your
suggestion that a central point be selected.
and a convenient time designated for a
fitting celebration of the birthday of
Thomas Jefferson by the Democrats of
Wyoming Is most opportune.
We are on tie eve OF statehood. The
government OF the state of Wyoming will
necessarily pass into the hands and under
the control of one of two political parties.
protesting different principles, and with
histories and policies as divergent as the
poles. To understand this thoroughly 1t
is wise to pause aud study the origin, the
history, as well as the living professions
parties, like bad men, may have spasms
Of virtue. They NAV, at a given time, be
found devou:ly w%orshippIng at a pure
shrine from fear. or to further some sin.
lister and selfish policy; they may assume
the disguise of an angel to compass the
work of devil; in fine they may play
the cunning role of expediency and
hypocrisy to reach a desired goal, but
the true touchstone of political parties, as
well as men, IS a life, a character founded
on lofty and patriotic principles-a his
tory consistent. and a labor constantly
directed to the accomplishment of a great
and good purpose.
Colossal among the wonderful states
men who founded our govern nent, who
taLhercd the constitution, who breathed
into it the living spirit of national life,
who baptized and blessed it with their
prayers, stands the founder of the Demo
cratic party-Thomas Jefferson. If he is
to be measured by his intellectual power
and Grasp. his political wisdom and sa-
gacity, his patriotism and fruitful public
service, his genius, if not divine inspira
ton, which enabled him to collect and
crystalize the vital-the fundamental
principles OF that constitution into tables
of political law and gospel for the guild.
ance of posterity-then he must take
position above all of his illustrious com.
peers. Tue life, the public service, the
political utterances of no other American
statesman Will so well repay close study as
VI uOLha oShCloOhs "A lOlAlCl
monument to his wisdom and patriotism,
even thar the Declaration OF lndepend-
ence which came from his pen-than the
Louisiana purchase which was the result
OF his unauthorized but decisive diplo-
macy, adding to the government as it did
a larger aud richer public domain than the
thirteen original states with their two first
born daughters, Vermont aud Kentucky,
aH1n1-waG the prOUDiDy act pt his pplit-
ical career, viz: The extraction OF the
vital principles of Republican government
as embodied in the constitution and the
delivery of them into the hands of the
Democratic party as the creed of their
political faith.
We interiect his text here, as the
~clearest and most forcible exposi-
ton OF Democratic principles to be
found. Other political organizations
have absorbed the letter, but have never
been able to assimilate the spirit of his
doctrines. He says: 1T is proper that
you should understand what | deem es-
sential principles of our government, and
consequently those which should shape
Its administration. | will compare them
within the narrowest compass they will
bear, stating the general principles, but
not all their limitations. Equal and
exact Justice to all men, Of whatever
state or persuasion, religious or political;
peace, commerce and honest friendship
with all nations-entangling alliances with
none; the support OF the state govern
ments in all their rights as the most COM
petent administrations for our domestic
concerns, and the surest bulwarks against
anti Republican tendencies; the preser.
walton OF the general government III its
whole constitutional vigor as the sheet
anchor of our peace at hOme and safety
abroad: a Jealous care of the right of ele:-
ton by the people; a mild and safe cor
rectiOn of abuses, which are Topped oil by
the sword OF revolution, when peaceable
remedies are unprOvlded; absolute &C
quIescence in the decisions OF the major
lty, the vital principle OF republics; a well
disciplined militia; the supremacy OF the
civil over the military authority; economy
in the public expense. that labor may be
lightly burdened; an honest payment OF
our debts and sacred preservation Of the
public faith; encouragement of agrlcul-
ture and Of commerce. as its hand-mald;
the diffusion of information anil the al.
raignment of all abuses at the bar OF pub.
lie reason; freedom of religion -ireedUm
of the press freedom of the person un
der the protection of the habeas corpus,
and trials by iuries impartially selected.
These principles form the bright constitu-
ton which has gone before us and guided
our footsteps through an age Of %revoiu-
ton and reform. They should be the
creed of our political faith-the text Of
civil instructiou-the touch-stone to try
the services Of those we trust.
These immortal u%tterances were the
matriz of all subsequent Democratic
principles and poIicies-and they are as
vital, as unifc, as essential to day as when
they we're given into the hands OF the
Democracy ninety years ago. The Demo
cratic party has weathered every storm
and fought every battle for constitutional
government under their guidence and in