The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-09-23
HONOR AND HEED THE PROPHETS
AND PATRIOTS.

The article of a week or so ago in the Demo
crat entitled, Honor, and Heed the Prophets
apd Patriots" was introductory. Jefferson
and Jackson were selected as our prominent
Presidents more especially entitled to historical
notice at this time. Both saw the necessity of
reform and inaugurated policy accordingly.
Mr.. Jefferson was disgusted with the foolish
apings after the forms OF royalty and did away
with them. He believed in "a plain and
simple government that shall not take from
the mouth of labor the bread IL has earned"
The efforts of the arrogant federal party under
President Adams, to establish what they
called "a strong government" as evidenced
by the passage of the Alien and sedition laws,
and the high handed and tyrannical enforce
ment of the same, alarmed and aroused the
people, and led to the triumph of jefferson in
1900.
A popular song of that day was entitled
Jefferson and Liberty" the first verse of
which was;
The gloomy night before us flies,
The reign of terror now is DER,
Its gags, inquisitors and spies,
And hordes of harpiesare no more;
Rejoice, Americans, rejoice!
To otyrants never bend the knee,
But join with heart and soul and voice
For Jefferson and liberty!
Never was man more villified and bitterly |
denounced than was Mr.. Jefferson during that |
campaign. In many places the pulpits were
only stumps from which to arraign Jefferson
as all that was foul and dangerous. His course |
when President showed how false these charges
were. But even at this day people are occa-
sonally met with who have inherited, and |
still entertain these errronous views. Mr.. JEFF
ferson was ever the student and the gentle
man, always maintained his selfcontrol,
always moved in good society, never received
nor sent a challenge for duel Truly was he
one of the greatest and best men Of his time,
and welded great influence and impressed his
common sense views of public policy upon his
fellow citizens.
He first, on the opening Of congress, sent a
written message instead ofattending in per on
and delivering an address, as the king did in
Great Britain. His election and administra-
ton brought feeling of relief and his able
and admirable inaugural address was
judicious document that allayed feeling and
and strife and restored confidence
and good will. His course too throughout was
to, and did produce these happy re-
suits as just and honest government always
will. All this too gave the people confidence
in the new system OF federal government.
When the constitution was submitted to the
different states for adoption. Patrick Henry
and others in Virginia and prominent men in
most or all of the other states, also opposed it.
They feared the president was only tyrant
king in embryo They said he would hold the
purse and the sword and that was ever dam
gerous. The experience during the admins
tration of Mr.. Adams revived these apprehen-
sions, but under the mild and careful sway of
Mr.. jefferson, this feeling of alarm disappear
ed and almost universally, the people were
fully reconciled to the Union and the Constitu.
ton and acknowledged their value. So great
was the change towards him that he was re
elected in 1904 without serious opposition, the
electors standing 143 to 33.
TTo no Continued