Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-10-20

| which deserves to rank with the 4th of
July, 1776, in the history of human
freedom, Democracy and representative
| government. By one of those happy CO.
medicines which glorify 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, the mother of the infamous alien
and sedition laws, was that day placed
Sin the process of ultimate extinction. !"
AS rule an inaugural address is
merely ornamental perfunctery, inane
Ia dress parade performances sound
ing brass and tinkling cymbal."
Pure Democracy.
| Not SO, however, with Jefferson's 1t
forms an epoch in our affairs. 1t is a
classic--a prophecy-an exposition. In
that first inaugural he made the great
Democratic confession of faith-formu
lated and promulgated our creed. Into
a 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. 1t is 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
lican tendencies; the preservation of the
general government in it's whole con-
stitutional vigor, as the sheet anchor Of
our peace at home and safety abroad; a
jealous care of the right Of election by
the people--a mild and safe corrective
of abuses. which are Topped by the
sword of revolution wner6 peaeeable
remedies are unprovided; absolute ac-
quiesoence in the decisions of the ma
jority-the vital principle Of republics,
from which there is no appeal but to
force, the vital principle and immediate
parent Of despotism; well 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 la
Dor may be lightly bufdened; the hon
est payment of our debts and sacred
preservation Of the public faith; encour-
agement of agriculture and Of commerce
as its handmaid the diffusion of infor-
nation and the arraignment 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 habeas corpus, and trial by juries
| impartially selected-these principles
form the bright constellation which has
gone before us and guided our steps
through an age of revolution and refor-
nation. The wisdom of our 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
us hasten to retrace our steps and to re-
gain the road which alone leads to
peace, liberty and safety.
Everlasting Principles.
nll,o4 .,,o. o,,,@,oroox, ,,,,,.o. ,,,d ,,,,do
filed, as the father of Democracy under
stood it and as he practiced it religious
ly. That is Democracy today-72 years
since he went to his reward 1t will be
Democracy until the earth shall perish
as a scroll.
While at it, wish to suggest to
young people who read these letters
that they should study the Declaration
Of independence and jefferson 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
great truth when he uttered that.
But did not start out to write a
eulogy on Jefferson or a 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 denominate "applied
Democracy = what an unscientific per-
son would call practical Democracy I"
There is an old saying, AN ounce of
practice is worth pound of theory, "
and it is true. Jefferson might have
theorized on government by Democracy
all his long life, and if nobody had ac-
Cepted his theory and reduced it to
practice all his theorizing would have
been in vain.
My text is, Economy in the public
expense, that labor may be lightly bur-
dened, text sufficient for many SER
mons. When was child, back in the
hill country of Kentucky. / heard an
old rougn and ready rural doctor say,
sThe most sensitive nerve in the human
anatomy is the nerve leading to the
| pooketbook. That was saying sage
enough to be elassed with King Solo,
mons proverbs or with Lord Bacon &
Wisdom of the Ancients. I have
been searching all my life for man
who really likes to pay taxes. He does
not exist But taxgatherers, like the
| poor, we always have with us. Taxes
are a necessary evil and none of us, not
even the most patriotic, really enjoys
! paying them. Consequently jefferson
saw with clear vision when be wrote
ECONOMY in the public expense, that
labor may be lightly burdened." Moth
ing could befog his crystalline intellect.
He recognized thoroughly that in the
last analysis the labor of the country
pays the taxes and must foot the bills;
hence his theory Of ECONOMY in the
public expense for the avowed purpose
sthat labor may be lightly burdened. :
Mfssouriss Glorious History.
My object lesson in applied De-
mocracy" is Missouri and her histors