The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-09-16
A REPETITION OF HISTORY.

History repeats itself. Following the
Revolutionary War, using Alexander
Hamilton as its illustrious agent, the
money power of the northeast obtained
control of the fiscal policy of govern
ment. and shaped it upon British mo-
dels. In a letter written to a friend,
Mr.. jefferson drew picture of the
condition existing in 1896, which finds
almost an exact duplication, exactly
one hundred years after the letter was
written. Mr.. Jefferson, who was de-
clared "a pestilent fellow" an San
archist," and "a red handed revolu-
zionist" by New England Federalists.
wrote:
Monticello, Va, April "a, 1896.
"My Dear Friend.-The aspect of our
politics has wonderfully changed since
YOU left us. In place of that noble love
of liberty and Republican government
which carried us triumphantly through
the war, an Anglican monarchial and
aristocratic party has sprung up,
whose avowed object is to draw over
us the substance as it has already done
the forms of the British government.
The main body of our citizens, how
ever, remain true. The whole of the
agricultural interests remain true
to their principles and a great mass
of talent besides.
against us are the executive. the
judiciary, the two branches of the Leg
islature, all the Office holders, and all
who want to hold office and also those
who are too timid to face this opposi-
ton. Added to these are the mer-
chants CBritish) and Americans trad
ing on British capital, spectators and
holders in the banks and public funds,
a contrivance invented for the purposes
of corruption and for assimilating us
in all things to the British model. 1T
would give you fever if / were to
name to you the apostates who have
gone over to these heresies; men who
were Samsons in the field and Solomens
in council, but who have had their
heads shorn by that harlot England.
In short. we are likely to preserve
the liberty we have gained only by
unremitting labors and perils. But we
shall preserve it; and our mass of
weight and wealth on the good side is
so great as to leave no danger that
force will ever be attempted against
us. We have only to awake and snap
the Lilliputian cords with which they
have been entangling us during the
first sleep which succeeds out labors.
Yours truly,
"THOS. JEFFERSON
Let us draw the parallel: Now the
executive" used his great power to
destroy silver; the judiciary" made
deficit in the Treasury because one
Judge changed his mind on the income
tax; only one house of the National
Legislature is in the employment of
the gold bugs, and we are that much
better off than in efferson's day; men
like Cleveland and Carlisle who were
fSamsons in the field and Solomons
in council, but who have had their
heads shorn by that harlot, England"
and American spectators and trad
ers dependent upon British money, are
as DESTROYS as in Jefferson's day of
''assimilating us in all things to the
British model" To-day we have a net
work of great corporations, organic
ed into syndicates by the great capital
switch constitute stronger agency
for the enslavement of the people than
in Jefferson's day; then no one man
could deprive $4,000 people of employ
ment, and coercive measures, if used,
were not far reaching. There was no
bank syndicate in New York that could
force railroad officials to become their
political serfs as now; no great trusts
demanding abject political submission
of all it's employees; no concentrated
capital that could be hurled to destroy
any interest or men who refused to
bow the knee. ''In Short" what Jeffer-
son said one hundred years ago is true
to-day and ''we are likely to preserve
the liberty we have gained only by
unremitting labor" "But we shall
preserve it." The Mark Hannas and
other corrupters will be but Lillipu-
tians in the hands of the people when
they become aroused to the dangers
| that confront them