The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-16


The speech made by Ex-Governor Rus
sell at Monticello last Monday is worth
moro than a passing notice. AS an expo
sition of the true principles of Democ-
racv. and of those foundation principles
upon which all Just and lasting govern
mont must be built it is not easy TO find
anything superior to 1t.
Governor Russell quoted from Mr.. JEFF
fersons first inaugural address the fol-
lowing passage:
..r,oual and exact Justice TO all men,
Of whatever state or persuaslon Eells-
;,,,s nv nolitical. peace, commerce, ana
honest friendship with all uations-en-
tanoling alliances with none; the sup
MORT of State governments in all their
rights as the most competent admins
,rations for our domestic concerns ana
the surest bulwark against anti-republl-
can tendencies the preservation or the
peneral government in It's whole cohsu-
tutional yigor as the sheet-anchor OF our
neace at home and safety abroad; Tree
dom Of religion; freedom OF the press
freedom of person under the protection
80 tbe babeas corpus, and trial by juries
i,,nartiallv selected. these principles
sor,n the bright constellation which has
conc before us and guided our steps
through an age of revolution and reforma
ton"
If would not he strictly accurate TO say
that Governor Russell took this passage
for the text of his address, since II Is
not quoted until near the end OF II. But
it's doctrines are those which he gave MS
best efforts to calculating; and he did
that with power and skill. Dealing with
the subject, as this passage from MI
Jererson's inaugural address suggests H.
ne said of Mr.. jefferson:
with clear vision he saw the future
understood the material out OF "IlCn
| ou, reni,blic was wrought. and so MADE
| its authority spring from the peopls anu
| its function service in their interests
| Rights. not favors: the people. not classes
| are the watchwords TO define his poiitica
| belief. His democracy and ours feslf
upon an abiding trust in the people, De-
lief that power can safely be given then
and that the broader the foundation the
safer the structure of our government
With him we believe In perfect liberty
in thought and action, in the equality o.
all before the law; in the freedom or th'
Individual from unnecessary restriction:
|
ment are for public purposes, not private
| ends. that taxation is "A necessary evil
TO be lessened by prudence and economy
| that IL is TO be levied justly. equally. &C
| cOrding TO mems means, not their hsces
| sites. and is not TO be used TO take iron
| one and give TO another. nor 10 enrich Ia
| few at the expense OF the many. In nj
creed there were only common rights
not favored interests; no privileged class
but only the greatest good OF the creates
| number. His democracy stood beside In
J humblest individual to protect him froi
oppression. and was the bulwark OF th
silent people TO prevent the power an
purpose of government from being war;
ed by the clamorOus demands OF SELLS
interests. His party was. and Is, and
to be the peoples party.
You VIII have 10 go G. long way 10 fin
a nobler or more just description OF tn
objects. aims. and purposes OF true JET
fersonian Democracy than this.
Governor Russell well ran these pill
ciples out to their logical conclusion
that our Government can know no;hin
but sound money. ana that an initiate
paper system or cheap money Is III
antipodes OF the sound principles that n
had shown true Democracy TO be oui
upon. He said OF this subject:
one further question remains. &c
whose solution we turn 10 J"tI srson it
help and guidance. We are In the mid
, OF earnest agitation over our m"netai
standard. The agitation crosses rAii
lines and tends TO geographical diViaic'
II involves the welfare or our count
and demands explicit and CONTRACTED
treatment. 10 jefferson it could tev'
be an issue between Colorado and w.
street or between a debtor and cred
, TOR class His broad Democracy abhor
ed geographical and class division. WI
true patriotism he would ask where r.
Tho honor and credit OF our con Ioc
5 country, where rest the Interests d OF
5 whole people? For one / behave I'M
r our country's honor demands scft y
ious fidelity 10 her plighted word. hone
navmcnt Of her obligations, and ~
! HE peoples interest is best served
sirlctly UNFOLDING here the .nonetil
standard OF the civilized world. Pr
colrage OF silver. or Its compulsory pr
chase. or any compromise lcgisi i,on
> us In that direction In my alignment
y distinctly class legislation. whica wo'.