The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-04-17

JEFFERSON'S BIRTHDAY.

Representative of the National Associa-
ton of Democratic Clubs, among whom
were some of the most Stinguished men
in the party, met Monday at the tomb of
the great apostle of American liberty to
reassert their belief that in the strict oh
servance of the principles of the demo
cratic party as defined and illustrated by
jefferson lies the chief security of govern
ment at once free and pure. The orator
of the day was eX-Gov. William +. Rus
sell, of Massachusetts. The response on
behalf of Virginia was made by Senator
John W. Daniel, who has Il stronger hold
upon the people of the Old Dominion, eN-
cept upon questions of national finance,
than any other man who claims the right
To speak for the mother of States ana
statesmen"
This notable gathering of the opponents
of democracy brought together men from
the North and the South. the East and the
West, who, while they may not be in ac-
cord upon all of the issues tibet now claim
attention. are vet united in the conviction
that the democratic party, when AL It's
members are in harmony, supporting the
principles upon which it was founded
strict construction, equal taxes and sim
plicitv of administration commands the
confidence of the maj GRITTY of the Ameri
can people. How to get back to first prin-
ciples as taught by the father of democracy
and how to infuse new life and vigor INTO
the party is a problem to which the demo
cratic leaders are giving earnest and care
full thought. If the party is i'll full accord
rs regards essentials it should not be I'M
possible to reconcile differences on minor
points. Therefore the moral effect of
Mondays pilgrimage, when men who diff
g., Il al ,.n
met in sight of Jefferson's tomb and re
newe | their faith in his teachings, must
be felt before the November election.
While those who inspired the pilgrim
age and took part in it deny that it has
any extraordinary significance, the occ-
sion is regarded as Of more than usual i'm
portance. Practically it was the first qua
of the campaign which the democrats will
wage, undaunted by the premature boast
inys of the republicans. Governor Rus
sells speech eloquently pointed out the
issues at stake and the ground upon which
all true democrats may unite. Tie spoke
rs sound-money man, while Senator
Daniel is one of the leaders of the silver
democrats. Still, the Senator is demo
crat first and silver advocate afterward,
and whoever may be the nominee at Chi
cago, or whatever may be the platform
adopted by the national convention, the
Virginia orator will he found champion
ing the cause of Jeffersonian democracy
and using all his influence and eloquence
in behalf of the nominees
To show what Jefferson taught and what
the people believe in today, Mr.. Russo
quotes the following outline of the demo
cratic creed:
Equal and exact justice to all men, of
whatever state or persuasion, religious or
political; peace, commerce and honest
friendship with all misunderstanding
alliances with none; the support of State
governments in all their rights as the most
competent administrations for our domeS-
tic concerns and the surest bul walks
against anti-republican tendencies; the
preservation of the general government
in its whole constitutional vigor as the
sheet anchor of our peace at home and
safety abroad; freedom of religion; free
dom of the press; freedom of person I'M
der the protection of the habeas corpus
and trial by juries impartially selected;
these principles form the bright constella-
ton which has gone before us and guided
| our steps through an age of revolution and
reformation