The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-07-03
MR., BRYAN'S ADDRESS.
He Speaks to an Immense Crowd
at the University Of Virgin
Ia.
"JrFrERsoS STILL LIVES

Ia.
"JeFFERsoN STILL LIVES"
Following is an extract from an adj
dress before the literary societies of
the University of Virginia, delivered
by William Jennings Bryan. The
immense crowd in attendance gave
the speaker an enthusiastic ovation
when he appeared upon the rostrum.
Mr.. Bryan's subject was "Jeffer-
son Still Lives, and his speech was
a discussion of the great principles
underlying our form Of government.
=" here is he said, zone great end
to which all must look. that is, to
the great level Of humanity. The
purpose of all society is to make hui
mainly camp on a little higher
ground every generation. There are
other questions which bind us to-
gethcr, political questions, not in a
partisan sense. The question is
whether the go, eminent shall be
good or bad. Our system permits
our government to be as good gov
eminent as all the people will make
it. Government is a composite of
all those who live under it. If the
government is bad, it becomes the
citizen to loek upon his own features
to see if the fault is with him. We
are here in sight of the second Sinai
Jefferson it was who comprehended
more clearly than any Of his asso-
ciates the capacity of the people for
sell government and at the same
time knew their weakness. 1t was
his wise apprehension of what is vi
tai that led him to regard as the three
great achievements of his life, the
writing of the Declaration of Ameri
can Independence, which gave free
dom to men; the authorship of the
statute of religious liberty, which
made man responsible for his life to
God; and the University Of Virginia
the cap stone of the system Of free
schools. devised by Jefferson and in
my Judgment the best that was ever
devised by any man.
"rhis system enables the son of
"a carpenter to take the honors, il
he can, over the son who is born to
an aristocratic Inheritance. 1t teach
es that honor comes from worth
not wealth. ! am not surprised that
Jefferson recognized this system as
the great work of his life. ! believe
that the State university which the
people control is the great nniversi-
ty Of the future. Jefferson stated
the wonderful principles of govern
ment when he said that all men are
created equal-not equal physically or
intelleetually-but equal whenever
government comes in contact with
the people; whenever the law touch
es them. If all men are created
equal, it follows as consequence
that no government should enable
or permit one citizen to injure an
other citizen. This is applying to
government what Christ taught
when he said; "All ye are brethren"
We put rings in the noses of hogs
to prevent them from destroying
property. Government must recog
nize that there are human hogs and
keep them from destroying property
In our best moments we are willing
to put rings in our noses to restrain
us from iniuring others, and so in
making our laws it will not do to
leave man at the mercy OF the law
which Injuries him.
Corporations are created for the
public good, and the people should
so control them as to prevent them
from violating the powers under
which they exist There should be
no corporation greater than those
who gave it life. Never before was
it as important as it is to-day to re-
strain men from injuring one anoth
er In these days, when corporate
wealth is banded together, you will
find special need of laws for protect
ing the humber citizens. Jefferson
not only declared that all men
are created equal, but that they
were endowed with inalienablc
rights-rights which government
does not give or take away.
Jefferson still lives. We love
him not whose body died, and dying
sanctifed the soil of Monticello, but
Jefferson, the philosopher When the
names OF military heroes are forgot
ten children will still lisp the name
of Jefferson, who filled the heart of
the knecling subject with hope and
babe him stand erect among his
peers. We do our duty as best we
can if we advance our government
and the welfare of society. One of
your Southern orators, a Senator
from Georgia, Hill, gave utterance
to a noble thought-'Who save his
country saves himself and all saved
do bless him. He who lets his coun-
try die lets all things die ignobly,
and all things dying curse him
The strength of the government is
not in it's armies or navies, but in a
happy and contented citizenship, in
laws so benefcent that every citizen
will be willing to die if need be to
preserve them.