The Irish standard., 1896-04-18
THOnAS JEFFERSON.

| On last Monday night tnes Democrats OF
IIennepin county kept green the memory. of
i Thomas Jefferson by indulglng IN ban
quet at the Nicollet Hotel. II was The
fourth annual dinner Of the Hennepin DEM
ocratc League and was enjoyed IN the most
bseoming manner by speech-making and
Fother entertainments usual upon such occa-
sions. The most befitting tribute was paid
| To the man of simple ways and magnificent
mentality BY one OF the orators Of the ocea-
sion, Weed Munro, and to G. Porter john
| son, of Chicago, was assigned the toast or
the Principles of Democracy. The day
was generally observed throughout the
country. especially in Jeffersons old home
at Monticello, Virginia.
| In reviewing the life of Jefferson Mr.
Johnson said:
4 The principles of Democracy have lived
as long as time has endured. because they
are inseparably connected with the Lord.
God Almighty. The principles Of Democ-
Bunker Hill. at Saratoga, at Yorktown.
This great domain of ours was never m
tended to be other than Democratic gov
ernment or a Democratic domain. Democ-
racy is government by popular represents
ton, in which the principles of government
| is demonstrated and retained by the people.
| A Democrat who understands what the
principles of Democracy are is defined to be
1rrno osfor Is 4ha
ment IN the people. The Democratic party
has always stood for the adherent Of the
people, as opposed to that special class who,
receive special favors at the hands Of the
government. The period when Jefferson
| lived was the crucial period Of this govern
ment's existence. The representative form
OF government had been tested in Europe,
and had failed; it had. been tried in Rome,
and failed, and it remained to be seen
whether It would continue to exist on this
continent or noE. And the Democratic par
ty came out of the test supreme. 1t perpet-
uated the principles OF self-government
Continuing the speaker said: want you
to study the SO years that the Democrats
we're in power, and then look at the 80 years
that the Republicans were in control. In
SO years time we see the wealth OF the
country In the hands Of the millionaires; 20
per cent Of the wealth OF the republic con-
trolled by the millionaire -plutarchs. The
genius Of Democratic government d the in
dividual citizenship. Under the Republican
government of this country, the plutocrats
have been built up: the favoritism to the
few has brought up arrogant nillionaires,
until today it is necessary for every citizen
|of this country to pay tribute to this arro-
lgance in the things he eats and the things
yhe wears
/ The hard times Of today are due to thel
fact that there is no just distribution Of the
products Of the land; labor is not adequate
ly paid. There are mill:ona.res enough ia
New York to control the grain Of this coun4
try One man controls the iron market;
eGle man controls the pork Of the world.
t1shis IS the magnificent prosperity OF the
Republican party. The fact Of the panic is
tsat few millionaires on Wall street CON
~ ~ lily AiOASy AhdA hCl VI Lie WOIlu. we
mtve gone to New York for everything; ne
haHe gone to New York for president. Nov
lett us go to the free West for our president
this year applause and laughter). Let me
salf this in conclusion, that If the Demo-
era Tic party expects to win it must get back
to- the old principles Of Jefferson: that an |
tha lights Of the people are vested in the
peOlle Of the republic. ri we lend the tax- |
ing lpowers Of this country to special inter |
ests. then indeed have the functions Of coma
gresss failed, and the fundamental principles |
Of q. plutocracy has been established NJ
class legislation no legislation for tha
Nortlls the South, the East or the West. but |
Legislation for the nation as united people |
|, as ~ Democrat. believe in what Thomas
Jeffetspn did-gold and silver as standards
Of motley, and interchangeable. believe ia I
bsmeta hisn, That is what Thomas Jeffer
son befdeved in. Believing in these things.
ssbn + my opinions to the great convea-
tion, and believe in letting the popular will
provide the means for the common good.
4