The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-04-17

,
Jcnerson's Principles and Their Appii
cation 90 Present Problems of farm
Civii service Reform, Finance and Al
A. Bigotry.
fEx,Gov. ". Il. Russell's Address NJ Monticello
In the days of war when the northern
soldier going to the front passed Tn
Old South meeting house In Boston
he revcrently raised his cap, for
voice within its homely walls spoke Il
him and sent him forth Drawer, true
man. We democrats now going forti
to battle, revercntly pause at the toni
of Jefferson to catch the inpsiratlon o
his voice.
In the formation of the constitution
and especially in its development un
| der amendment and construction. there
were discussion and difference ofopion
| ion over fundamental principles and thu
proper scope and function eof govern
ment. So Hamilton and Jefferson be
came the recognized leaders of distinct
schools of political thought and of con
Hicting policies and parties which
each upheld with signal ability ano
unquessstioned patriotism.
To Hamilton, fond of English pre-
eedents, reluctant to trust the people,
doubtful of their capacity to govern
themselves strong government seem
ed a necessity for their welfare anc
happiness and for the preservation OF
liberty and property, lie would en-
large by construction the powers of the
constitution, create centralized pa.
ternal government, make it dominant
over a dependant people rather than
a T.. Il, lni f,,,ts. moi on
With sincerity and singlencss of pur-
pose, he sought no doubt the people 5
interest, but with his light he could
find it only through and under con
trollong power; and he looked upon
them as the subjects rather than the
source of government.
Jefferson began at the other end.
La his mind stood first the rights OF
the individual, next the power OF the
people, and then to establish both u
government guaranteeing freedom and
resting upon consent. The corner stone
Of his party was the truths he had
asserted as self evident in the Declare
ton of independence, that all men are
created equal, endowed with certain
rights, to secure which rights, gov
ernments are instituted, deri ling their
Just powers from the consent of the
governed.
His democracy stood beside the
humblest individual to protect him
from oppression, and was the bulwark
of a silent people to prevent the power
and purpose of government FROM be
ing warped by the clamorous demands
of selfish interests. His party was,
and is, and is to he the peoples party.
In all of this Jefferson created no
new theory Of government He merely
the conditions under which
our country was settled and our union
formed and under which ii must
continue. Upon these principles he
an indpstructable party.
Later when England planned to seize
SPANS North American possessions, he
the principle Of the Monroe
doctrine in his Instructions as pres
dent TO our minister at her court
He believed that the honor aud safe
ty of our country lay in Fair ueu
rality." peace and honest friendships
with all nations" but with recogni-
ION of her continental interests and
readiness to assert her power in their
iefense. In the young life Of new
he established the foreign
,olicy since followed in her full ma.
.urity an. inyinciblc strength, and /
which finds its latest expression in the |
.iporras 4r.-o on of Democratic al I
His pen might have written, as no
ioubt his teaching suggested the dec.
aratjon Of the Nepczuelan message. |
+, ,,.,,,,Tl ,o;,;,,o With nc tLot nut Cf I