Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-10-27
Champ Clark en- Jefferso-
nian Principles.
FIRM, SAFE AND PRACTICAL.
Economy In Public: Expense His
Watchword.
LABOR TO BIB LIGHTLY BURDENED.

atCnWQ
LABOR TO BIB LIGHTLY BURDENED.
Missouri's Glorious History of Twen-
ty-six Fears Under Democratic Com
troll Cited As an object LESSON
Record Of Eeononay - Republican
Extrayagancs and iMisrule.
Especial Washington Letter.l
The 4th of March, 1901, is q day
which deserves to rank with the 4th Of
July, 1879, in the history Of human
freedom, Democracy and representative
government. By one Of those happy 90
incidences which gluify our country,
Thomas Jefferson was the great central
figure on both Of the memorable days.
On the latter his immortal Declaration
was agreed to by the Continental con
gress. On the former he was sworn in
as the first Democratic president Of the
United States and the old Federalist
party, tho mother Of tae infamous alien
and sedition laws, wis that day placed
''in the process Of ultimate extinction"
As o rule an inaugural address 10
merely ornamental, perfunctory, inane
dress ,arade perfermance-"sound-
ing brass and tinkline cymbal."
Pure Democracy.
Not 90, however, with Jefierson'a. It
forms an epoch in q affairs. It is q
olassic-a propheoy-an exposition. In
that first inaugural hs made the great
Democratic confession Of faith-formu.
lated and promulgated our creed. Into
q few dozen words he condensed the
fundamental principles Of representa-
tive government. Every citizen of the
republic, every lover Of liberty, should
commit them to memory. II ia nearly
100 years since they were uttered; but,
like the gospel. they are never old.
Here they are:
Equal and exact Justice to all men,
Of whatever state or persuasion, religious
or political; peace, commerce and hon.
est friendship with all nations-entan-
Cling alliances with none; the support
Of the state governments in all their
rights, as the most Competent admins
trations for our domestic concerns and
the surest bulwarks against antirepub-
lican tendencies; the preservation Of the
general government in its whole con-
stitutional vigor, az the sheet anchor Of
our peace at home and safety abroad; q
jealous cart Of the RI light Of election by
the people-a mild and safe corrective
Of abuses. which aae Topped by the
sword Of revolution where peaceable
remedies are ~unproyided; absolute 30
quiescence in the decisions of the ma
5ority-the vital principle Of republics.
from which there il no appeal but to
force, the vital principle and immediate
parent Of despotism; a we'll disciplined
militia-our best reliance in peace and
for the first moments Of war. till regu-
lars may relieve them; the supremacy
Of the civil over the military authority;
economy in the public expense, that Ia
Dor may be lightly burdened; the hon.
est payment Of our debts and sacred
preservation of the public faith; encour-
agement of agriculture and Of commerce
as its handmade; the diffusion Of infor-
nation and the alraignment Of all
abuses at the bar Of public reason free
dom Of religion; freedom Of the press;
freedom of person under the protection
of the habaas oosPuA and tsisl by juxies
.impartially selected-these principles
form the bright constellation which has
gone before Ms and guided q steps
through an age Of revolution and refor-
nation. The wisdom Of q sages and
the blood Of our heroes have been de-
voted to their attainment. They should
be the creed Of our political faith, the
text Of civil instruction, the touchstone
by which to try the services Of those
we trust, and, should we wander from
them in moments of error OF alarm, let
Us hasten to retraoe q steps and to re-
gain the road which alone leads to
peace, liberty and safety"
E~verlasting Principles.
That was Democracy, pure and unde-
filed, a. the father OF Democracy under
stood it and as he piaoticedit religious
~. That 10 Democracy today-72 years
since he went to hia reward. It will be
Democracy until tho earth shall perish
as q scroll.
While at It, ! wish to suggest to
young people who read these letters
that they should study the Declaration
Of Independence and Jeferson's first in
augural as exercises in composition.
There is no finer literature anywhere.
Old John Adams said, jefferson is
cunning with his pen," and John told
o great truth when he uttered that.
But I did not start out to write .
eulogy on Jefferson or q thesis on his
style; rather to submit few ideas and
comments ON one of the principles set
forth by him in the foregoing extract
to give an object lesson Of what mathe-
matioians would tlenominate applied
Democracy" what An unsoientifo per-
son would call practical Democracy"
There is an old saying, San ounce Of
practice is worth q pound Of theory"
and IL is true. Jefferson might have
theorized on government by Democracy
all his long life, and If nobody had ao-
copied his theory and reduced IL to
practice all his tiieorizing would have
been in vain.
My text is Economy in the public
expense, that 1aboi' may be lightly bur-
dened," q text sufficient for many SER
mons. When / was q child. backin the
hill country Of Kentucky, I heard an