Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-13
Hon. H. D. Mcdonald of Paris
Makes His Opening Speech
at BOnham.
Evils Wrought by False Teachers-HOw
the Farming and Labcring
Glasses Are Deceived.
A Clear Exposition of His Position on the
Questions of the Day-OpDosed to a
Railroad Commission.
special TO the Gazette.


D. Mcdonald of Paris opened the guber-
material campaign here to-day. People
we're present from all along the Trans
continental line. He had q representa-
tive audience and his emark were we'll
received. He spoke as foil
FELLOW CITIZENS - Throughout the
state OF Pennsylvania at his very hour
the believers in a pure and undehled
Democracy are celebrating the anniver-
sary Of one of the most important events
that ever occurred in the history of man
kind. In that ancient commonwealth
the lovers of popular government as en-
bodied in the creed of Democracy have
set apart a a to be remembered and
celebrated with thanksgiving n joy so
long as a government of the people shall
endure on the American continent.
One hundred and forty-seven years
ago occurred an event that has lone
more TO shape the destiny of the Ameri-
can people than any other event in their
entire history. 1t is the ami
versary of that event that
the Democrats of Pennsylvania
celebrate to-day, and out of all other
DAYS have chosen it as a most fitting
occasion upon which TO give my first
greeting TO the Democracy of Texas. II
is the anniversary of the birth of Thomas
Jefferson.
And now upon the threshold OF a an
vass which l propose TO make before a
people protesting TO be devoted to his
memory, how suspicious the occasion
seems for indulging q brief retrospect as
to who he was, what he thought and
what he did; for it has been truly said
shot a fraT1anf ran1rrpnna m original
principles is the only safeguard of
liberty.
Jefferson is justly styled the father n
the apostle of Democracy and if IN this
day and generation there be any tenden-
cies to drift away from his teachings, it
will surely do no harm, il his teachings
be sound, to briefly recall them, and to
dweIl for awhile upon some of, the Incl
dents of his life.
For the age and country in which be
lived he was a man of large wealth, and
so remained through public life n
until his latter days when the demands
of a generous and princely hospitality
had impoverished him. At the very
zenith of his power and his fame his
countrymen thought it no reason why he
should not hold office that he was a man
of fortune. Is there abroad in this
country i seullUlSuLs SADTSSS6u OE uu-
uttered, that the mere possession of
wealth should debar its pOssessor from
participating in the affairs of government
except as a voter? If there be such a
a sentiment it finds no warrant in the lives
and practices of Jefferson and his con-
temporaries. Neither human nature
nor the qualifications for holding office
have changed since his day, and if there
was no reason TO urge against the holding
OF office by the wealthy then there is no
reason now. If the rich cannot be
trusted now, he ought not to have been
trusted then.
In the next place, Jefferson was a law
yer when he was elected to the legisla-
lure OF Virginia. Have you ever heard
anybody say that farmers, mechanics
and other classes, in preference to law
yers, ought to be sent TO the legislature?
II you have, you ought to rave reminded
that person that ones occupation has
nothing TO do with his fitness for office.
In the next place, Jefferson was, by
birth and fortune, an aristocrRt at a time
when the order of aristocraoY was in
vogue. \ distinction did exist in the So
ciety Of his day between the masses and
the classes, and though he belonged TO
the latter, he was yet deemed worthy
$4,000 AA45NAA ~ 49, Va ID 80
dencc and all honor. The standard of
fitness which he prescribed for a public
servant Is wholly embraced in the ques-
lions: is he honest? Is he faithful Is
ne capable? From his time until now
thls has. in theory at least, been the
only recognized Democratic test of the
ntness Tor public trust; Il so firmly
90 we profess to believe in il, !
that out Of compliment to its au-
thor we call it the Jeffersonian test.
But even the weight of his great name |
can add nothing to its value, because it
Is q political truism. Can any rational
deduction in the science of govern
nent assign one single rea-
son how or why this test or
any part OF it can nave any proper rela-
tlon, immediate or remote, to the wealth, |
the poverty the occupation or the sta
non OF those who seek Office? And if you
nave ever seen or known of an instance
"here q mans wealth, or poverty, or
occupation, or station was used as an sr-|
gument against his fitness for office by q
democrat, then you have seen the spirit
OF Ihomas Jefferson dishonored in the
mouse OF his friends. Oh! for a genera
uon OF people imbued and animated by
MS spirit! Then! indeed, wouidst the po-
ItlcaI millennium be at hand.
now believe that the perpetuity of
Iepuoilcan Institutions depends upon q
fisld adherence 10 the principles nam
talhed and promulgated by Jefferson; for,
however much we may fiatter ourselves !
'hat republican government Is a demon
s'fated success, yet considering the lon
eeVlty OF governments, it might be truly
sald that We yet struggle in the domain
Of experiment.
Before the time of jefferson it was the
prevailing theory that the people existed
LOT tue governments; he reversed that
theory, in this country at least, and
startled the monarchies of the old
world by announcing as the corner
stone OF the new republic the doc
time that the government existed for the
people. Under the old system the rulers I
claimed 70 rule by divine right and the
people were but subjects; under the new
system the rulers were but servants and