Birmingham age-herald., 1894-11-04
TRUE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES.


 trines of the democratic party and as an act in favor of the election of Oscar Under wood as the representative of these princi- pies, l send you a copy of the words ut- tered and written by Thomas Jefferson in his first inaugural address on the 4th of March, 1901. when he rode on horseback to the then capitol, hung his saddle bags on the fence and walked up to the building to be inaugurated. He was then in the 68th year of his age-the author of the "Decla- ration of Independence'' and the "Act of Religious Toieration.' The coutempora- neouS historian, as well as tradition, tells that great anxiety existed to hear his in augural address, and serious apprenensions were held from what was fomented by the federal party to be his "French princis ples.' Suffice it to say that his inaugural gave general satisfaction. But it can be truthfully stated just here that never @ man entered upon his duties of office of president more heavily handicapped by foes within and foes without than did Thomas Jefferson, the great apostle of de- mocracy. But with the spirit and beacon lights that inspired the declaration of rights of the people-the declaration of in- dependence and the constitution of the United States-continualy before him, he was bold to say in his first inaugural:
 'If there are any among us who would wish to destroy this union or to change it's republican form let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. l deem the essential principles of our government and consequently those which ought to shape it's administration as scomprehending every. thing dear and valuable to you. l will compress them within the narrowest com pass they will bear, stating the general principle, but not all it's limitations: Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political; peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations. entaugling alliances with none; the support of state governments in all their righta as the most competent ad- ministrators for our domestic concerns and the surest bulwarks against anti-republi- can tendencies; the preservation of tho general government in its whole constitu- tion as the sheet anchor of our peace at the right of election by the people; mild and safe corrective of abuses, which are Topped by the sword of revolution where peaceable remedies are upprovided; abso.- lute acquiescense in the decisions of the majority-the vital principle of republics, from which there is no appeal but to force ate parent of despotism; a well dis ciplined militia--our best reliance in peace and for the first movements of war till regulars may relieve them; the suprem- acy of the civil over the military authority; the economy in public expense that labor may be lightly burdened; the honest pay ment of our debts and sacred preservation Ot tuo puOfiC ouOOQxoSoLAoub oA az riculture, and of commerce as its handmaid; the diffusion of information and the ar-, raignment of all abuses at the bar of public reason; freedom of religion; freedom of the press; freedom of person under the protec- tion of habeas corpus, and trial by juries, impartially selected. These principles form the bright constellation which has gone before us and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation. The wisdom of our sages and the blood of our hou fo thoir atf ment. They should be the creed of our political faith; the text of civil instructions; the touchstone by which to try the services of those we trust, and should we wander let us hasten to retrace our steps and to re- gain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty and safety. ."-[See Thomas Jeffer- son's first inaugural, March 4, 1So1.l :
 Did ever patriot statesman speak words of greater wisdom than thesef Surely no federalist over didl Not Hamilton nor Jay or Webster or Clay or Crittenden or Lincoln or Garfield or Blaine or Harrison or even Cleveland, ever spoke such words as this man: No, not one. And he acted These words have constituted the cardinal principles of the democratic republican party in veal and woe from 1901 to the present time. These are the principles Jefferaon, the two administrations of James Madison, the two administrations of James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, of James K. Polk, of Franklin Pierce; under which you obtained the Louisiana terri- tory by purchase, comprising now more than eight states, Florida and all the states of the Pacific coast and the Sierras.
 These are the principles upon which our government prospered at home and was respected abroad-with merchant marine and navy unequaled, except by England with a commerce world wide and extend- ing over every ocean. sea and harbor when the so-csled republican party came into power by n1inimized vote and an act of war, and by the execution of higher law than the constitution, set back the pripci- ples of constitutional liberty and we'll nigh destroyed the government.
 These are the principles of the demo. cratic party today as cleor cut; and as we'll defined as they were in 1891. They are the principles of Oscar Underwood and all who are true to the fundamental principles of democratic republication ,as am. Truly your old friend,
 JOHN R. PAGE, M. D.
 Life long democrat.
 Birmingham, Nov. 3.