The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-13
THOMAS JEFFERSON, APRIL I3, I743


One hundred and fifty-four years ago
today new style) there was born at
Shadwell, In the county Of Albemarle,
in the colony Of Virginia, babe des-
tined to play a great part In the his
tory of his race and to give the initial
movement to influences that will run
through all the future life Of this re-
public as long as it remains such.
Ninety-six years ago the 4th day OF
last March this babe, grown to man
hood, leader Of that spirit In the ma
tion he had helped to found, and whose
declaration of right to be a nation he
had drawn, that impulse which aspires
ever to larger freedom for the indlvid
ual and rightly regards government
as human liberty transmitted into cen
tralized power took the oath of office
as president Of the United States and
delivered to their people an inaugural
in which he briefly laid down the prin-
ciples of democratic government.
1t is we'll for the Democrats, and
better for those not holding that po
litical faith, to read and ponder, on
this anniversary Of the birth of Thorn
as Jefferson, the inaugural that day
given to the world; for the same ten
denotes in government against which
he struggled and fought still abide
with us and, if undeterred, will GER
tainly, some time, establish a rule here
as destructive of the rights and liber-
ties Of the people as would have been
the government of England could
George III. have had his will. Sue
ceeding to an administration holding
practically the view Of government
held by the king whose authority
had been lately thrown off, an admin
Istration that had enacted the alien
and sedition laws because they ex-
pressed it's idea of the legitimate pow
ers Of government, 1t was fitting that
Jefferson should announce the prin-
ciples of a Democratic government
They remain unchanged today, and If
this republic is to endure, 1t will only
be because those principles continue
to be it's guide.
After reciting the advantages Of the
nation in it's resources, climate, peo-
pie, isolation, he asks: with all these
blessings what more is necessary TO
make us a happy and a prosperous
people? Still one thing more, fellow
citizens, a wise and frugal govern
ment, which shall restrain men from
injuring one another, shall leave them
otherwise free to regulate their own
pursuits Of industry and improvement,
and shall not take from the mouth of
labor the bread it has earned. This is
the sum of good government, and this
is necessary to close the circle of our
felicities. About to enter, fellow cit
liens, on the exercise of duties which
comprehend everything dear and val
liable to you, it is proper you should
understand what 1 deem the essen
tial principles of our government, and
shape it's administration. / will COM
press them within the narrowest COM
pass they will bear, stating the general
principle, but not all its limitations.
Equal and exact justice to all men,
of whatever station or persuasion, re-
ngious or POLITICAL; peace, commerce
and honest friendship with all nations,
entangling alliances with none; the
support Of the state governments IN
all their rights, as the most compe-
tent administrations for our domestic
concerns and the surest bulWarks
against anti-republican tendencies;
the preservation Of the general gov
eminent IN it's whole constitutional
vigor, as the sheet anchor Of our peace
at home and safety abroad; a jealous
care Of the right Of election by the
peopIe-a mild and safe corrective Of
abuses which are Topped off by the
gword of revolution where peaceable'
remedies are unprovided; absolute &C
quiescence in the decisions Of the ma
Jority, the vital principle OF republics.