The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-14

q.
IL was to be vigorously frugal and sim
ple;' in form self-gOvernment kept near
70 the power that makes and obeys it,
II was TO be lome-rule, with Jealous re-
gard for the rights of the states and of
local government.
"Jeffersons thoughts and work We're
not limited to domestic questions. He
llVed in times of revolution and war. He
mad been a powerful factor in achiev-
ing the Independence Of our country and
IN maint tanning It against foreign aggres-
sion. He advocated and accomplished a
vast extension of her territory straining
ms constitutional power as he frankly adj
mitted. He believed in the future and
grand destiny of our republic and declared
we should have such an empire for liberty
as she has never. surveyed since the Gre
alton and that no constitution was ever
before 50 well calculated as ours for
extensive empire and self government
he, upheld the nations honor, asserted
us rights and jealously guarded its in
tereSts against foreign attacks, but de-
clared her policy, to be peace, COM
merce and honest friendship with all ma
tons, changing alliances with none
he held the country aloof from
foreign complications which did not en-
croach upon her rights: vigorously pro-
tested when they reached this point, but
was DESTROYS ever of peace with honor.
In the early years OF the conflict be-
tween England and France he wrote as
Secretary of State: 1 wish we may be
within the limits of fair neutrality
Later. when England planned to seize
SPANS North American possessions, he
formulated the principle of the Monroe
doctrine i'm his instructions as President
to our minister at her court. We wish
you, therefore, he wrote, to intimate
to them Ohe British ministry that we
cannot be Indifferent to enterprises of this
kind; that We should contemplate
change of neighbors with extreme uneas-
mess; that a due balance on our borders
is not less desirable to us than a bal
ance of power in Europe has always APP
peared to them And later still he said,
with all sincerity, no two countries upon
earth have so many points of common
interest and friendship, and their rulers
must be great bunglers indeed If, with
such dispositions. Uney break them asun-
der He believed that the honor and
safety of our county lay in fair neu-
trality,' peace and honest friendship with
all nations but with recognition of her
continental interests and readiness TO as
Sert her power in their defense.
Il have spoken as If Jefferson were with
us. Do we not feel his presence and
hear his voice? Let US summon MIN to
our council board to teach, unite and
lead us as we go forth to battle What
should we say to him OF the present, its
parties. its issues and the questions be-
fore the people? Speaking broadly we
could truthfully say that present issues
involve the old contest over the proper
power and functions of government, the
old issue between the use OF that power
for public purposes and its use for class
or sectional, or private interests, ana
that the great party he founded has need
10 assert tue DIiiGAAiitS lie plONidlulths
"Who doubts where Jefferson would
stand in contest with such party over
present issues?
party, true to his teaching, was still the
broad, national, peoples party. That it
knew no south or north or east or west,
but only the whole nation whose states
it has protected in their rights, and whose
people il has bound together in a more
perfect union, that 1T has upheld freedom
OF conscience and personal liberty and
fn1vphf
Of class, of race, or of religion; that
through long agitation and a struggle
within its ranks, it has asserted that tax
alton is to be only for revenue and public
purposes. To this end, upon the emphatic
demand of the country. it has reversed
her war tariff policy This it has done
conservatively, and on the broad lines of
first cheapening the necessaries of life
and freeing the raw materials of indus
tries. 1t has not sought to reach the goal
by one effort but step by step, with all
the aid experience can give. 1t now de-
mands fair test of its law. 1t vigorous
ly opposes any reaction or return to a
tariff policy defeated and discarded, and
recognizes the right of business interests
to a period of rest 1t firmly believes in
the separation of government and taxa
tion from the control of private interests
and selfish Influences, and confidently ex-
poets that the history of 1916 and 1857 VIII
be repeated, and. through discussion and
education, we shall, with the hearty APP
proval of the country, return to the sound
principles and tariff policy of the days be-
fore the war Yes, and to the principle
declared by Jefferson in his first message
agriculture, manufactures, commerce
and navigation, the four pillars of our
prosperity, are the most thriving when
left most free to individual enterprise
Jefferson if with us would find also to
his satisfaction that his party, through
the work of a courageous and patriotic
had lifted the civil service
above partisanship, had made its officers
servants of the people, not political COM
batants, and by practical and wholesome
reform had placed 1t upon a broad and
inst basis What is more democratic than
10 break down the barrier which excludes
from public service half of the people, be-
cause of honest political convictions, and
meet the tests ne prescribed: rs he hon
est? Is he capable? Is he faithful to the
Zone further question remains. for
whose solution we turn to Jefferson for
help and guidance. We are in the midst
of earnest agitation over our monetary
The agitation crosses party
lines and tends to geographical division
It involves the welfare of our country, and
demands explicit and courageous treat
ment. To Jefferson it could never be an
issue between Colorado and Wall street
or between a debtor and creditor class.
His broad democracy abhorred geograph-
ical and class division. With, true patriot
ism he would ask where lie the honor and
credit of our common country, where rest |
the interests of our whole people? For
9ne, believe that our eountry's honor
4
I'd word. honest payment of her obliga-
tons, and that the peoples interest is
best served by strictly upholding here
the monetary standard of the civilized
world Free coinage of silver, or its COM
purchase, or any compromise leg
Station by us in that direction in my
Judgment is distinctly class legislation, |
which would unsette business, impair |
,redit, reduce all savings, and the value |
Of all wages, and whose injurious results |
no man can measure. We are still ready.
as we always Nave been, to confer with
other nations bbon any sound system of
nterna tiona1 BIN etalisIn. i have misun-
lerstoodS the steaching of Jefferson, and
the traditions and principles of our party
II they db not support this view, and sus-
lain a{democfatfe administration in it's
resollte enforcement of it, With Jeffer-
son trutIf neverlay In compromise of prin-
.iple nor success in evasion of RESPONSE
biiity. Nor will they with US. Let US leave
and expediency to the repub-
Iican party, which Is ever ready to trim
and eyade to harmonic its warning fac
lions Let US, IL need be through discus |
sion and agitation, find the truth, brayely
assert it. and trust our cause TO the con-
science and patriotism Of the people.
rT,hH following Is an extract from the |
address of Hon. Chauncey F. Black. Al |
luding to jefferson, he said: "Of all merely |
human beings, of all those who ever came |
among the sons OF men without a com
mission distinctly divine, his power as a 1