The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-15

cd by the deSOi0jlDE storm OF war. lSuL
even war, which spared almost nothing.
yet spared the walls with their precious
contents. The dawn OF peace found the
University weak AMI exhausted
but not disheartenod. The peo-
pie of Virginia who had learned
to cherish it. its sons who looked back
20 Il with fond affection. the warm-he
cd ana opeu-hauded friends OF learning in
distant places came forward with liberal
help.
But another stroke Of adversely awaited
il. Its very walls were left in ruins and
its precious contents wasted. There was
an immediate resolve that It should rise
from its ashes in yet fairer proportions.
This great purpose has now been accom-
plished. and we are gathered together to-
day TO celebrate its completion.
The University of Virginia sprang into
life In full panopiy. from the conception
of a single man, Thomas Jefferson
He had few of the qualities that make
the great military chieftain. the cOnqueror,
or the dictator, but what figure in the
gallery of American renown can point to
such a catalogue Of pacific achievements?
The abolition in his native state OF the
laws of primogeniture and entail, the Viz
ginia statute Of religious freedom, the
Declare ton Of Independence, the just and
peaceful removal of Indian tribes 10 the
west of the Mississippi. the extinction of
the national debt the acquisition OF Lou
isiana, the University of Virginia. where
are the crimes or the vices which dim
the luster of these deeds2 Those whose
ideal of the duty and destiny of the re-
public is that of a nation ready at any
moment for the grim business of
war, eager to avenge an insult
real or supposed, greedy of military and
naval renown, inclined to erect Its own
viii into law and enforce it against all
opposition, to strike first the reason ar
terwards-these VIII find little to admire
in the career of Mr.. jefferson. War eX-
cept In self defense and as a last alterna-
tive. he held in detestatlon as the enemy
both OF civilization and liberty He may
not have sufficiently considered that the
power 10 inilict misery upos other nations
is stiN the best guaranty of their respect,
ana that their duties devolvng upon each
member of the great society Of nations
which il has no right TO neglect, and which
may involve at any time hostile sum-
mons.
He held in adherence large standing
armies and powerful navies, and a nation
unprovidcd with these viii sometimes find
itself subjected to humiliation, either by
submitting to injury from a consciousness
of unreadiness TO make a good defiance,
or by being suddenly overwhelmed by an
inferior hostile force. But are nations un-
prepared for war the only ones likely to
be subjected to humiliations? Was Eng
land never Inundated, or France or Ger
many? and had we always been armed on
the land and on sea in proportion 10 our
power. should we have gained and held
the glory hitherto accorded to us by civ
ilzed mankind of, being the promoters of
international law, and the advocates OF
peace and justice among nations? And
even in respect to power itself when
called upon to exhibit our strength in a
just cause, could We under a more con-
solidated government, assemble the over
whelming forces which the emulation q
rival states will now willingly place al
the service of the nation?
For the theoretical doctrine which sup
ported the claims of nulifcatioh and Sc
| cession Mr. jefferson must indeed bt
| held largely accountable but this was
| never any essential part of his philosophy
I of free government, If indeed it be con,
| sistent with it, 1t concerned only III,
I Interpretation and effect of the particular
| constitutional instrument by which tht
| colonies united themselves together. The
| main question was not whether under
| Federal government formed to Sc
cure the ends which ours had il
view, 1t would be wise to delegat,
to the general government the right to de
| termine the extent of its own powers bu
| whether in point of fact such a delegation
was contained in our own constitution.
! may hazard the opinion that If the ques
| ton had been made, not in 1890 but in 1888
| Immediately after the adoption Of the con
| sdtution whether the union as formed
| by that instrument could lawfully trea
| the secession of a state as a rebellion anC
! suppress it by force, few of those who haC
| participated in framing that instrumen
| would have answered in the affirmative
| Nor has that question been in any man
| ner settled by the result of that civil strif,
! which has effected such a profound revo
| luton in the political and social world o
| America. ! cannot admit the efficacy o
| force to settle any question of historit
| or scientific truth. Truth is eternal anC
| immutable and the warfare of those VIII,
| seek to suppress it will forever be in vain
| The question which the result of tina
strife did settle was whethe
the federal union, compose,
| originally of colonies, the peopl
| of which had been the subjects of tn
same sovereign, and which had never oc
cupied the attitude of Independent state
before the world, embracing also ney
states created out of territory which wa
the common property of all, could-afte
they had been knit together into natio
during the life of nearly a century by th
thousand process which time and natur
employ 10 cement and consolidate a pee
ple--at the will and pleasure OF one of it
| parts, be instantly and peacefully resolv
ed not into it's original elements but int
/
had had no participation in its origins
formation. That was a question whic
from it's nature could be settled only b
trial. and the trial has indeed foreve
settled that, and neither side would wis
the decision to be reversed.
Are there any other respects I'm whic
IT may be plausiby suggested that the D,
litical philosophy of Mr.. Jefferson has &c
, discredited by the teachings of exper
ence? Does the general government no
need larger delegation OF power? Al
, there any instructions hitherto performe
by the states which should be relegate
to the central authority? Do we need
large standing army? Must we confroi
2 the gigantic naval ornaments of the Ei
= ropean nations with a corresponding q
- ray2 Must we mingle in the ambition
, of the great Powers Of the world? Nh
we extend the area of our territor1
| dominion? Must we book on and b.aho
' with unconcern the partitioniug of Afric
q among the European Powers, and the al
r memberment of China? Must we assa
q before the world the might and majes
= OF 100000 of the most energetic and n
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