The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-15
Ribbons.
Silks.
JULIUS SYCIE Sc SON

overwhelmed by an inferior hostile force.
But are national unprepared for war, tne
only ones likely 70 be subjected 10 hui
Mutations? Was England never INUNDATED
| or France or Germany? And had we al
WAYS sheen armed on the land and on
sea in promotion to our power should
we have gained and held the glory NTH
erto accorded 20 US by civilized man
kind Of being the promoters OF interna-
tional law. and the advocates OF peace
| and justice among nations2 Ana even
I'm respect 20 power Itself when called
upon to exhibit our strength Ia a Just
cause. could we under a more consoll-
dated government. assemble the over
whelming forces which the emulation OF
rival States will now willingly place at
the service OF the nation2
TRUTH is IMMITABLE.
For the theoretical doctrines which
supported the claims OK nulihcatlon ana
accession. Mr. jefferson must indeed DO
held partly accountable, but this was
never any essential part OF his philoso-
ply OF free government, If indeed = be
consistent with il. IT concerned only me
Interpretation and effect Of the pa~ueu-
lar constitutional instrument Us which
he colonies united themselves tose ther
The main question was not whether. IN
der a Federal Government. formed 10
secure the ends which ours had N view
it would be wise TO delegate TO the Gen
eral government the right 10 determine
the extent Of its own powers, but Nhe-
Their in point OF fact such deleeaton
was contained in our own constitution.
] may hazard the opinion That II the
question had been made, not in 1872 hut
in 17ss, Immediately after the adoption
Of the Constitution whether the Union. as
fully treat the secession Of a state as
rebellion and suppress &c by force, few OF
those who had participated in tanning
that instrument would have answered IN
the affirmative.
Nor has that question been IN any
manner settled by the result of that civil
strife which has effected such pro-
found revolution in the political ahd So
cial world of America. I cannot admit
the efficacy OF force 10 settle any cues
ton Of historic or scientific truth. Truth
is external and immutable and the war
fare OF those who seek 20 suppress II
will forever be In vain. The question
which the result OF that strife id set
tie was whether the Federal Union. COM
posed originally OF colonies, the people
OF which had been the suJiects Of the
same sovereign, and which had never Oc-
cupied the attitude of independent s.ta'es
before the world. embracing also new
States created out Of territory wlich was
the common property Of ALL co I'D, after
they had been knit together iroO a ma
ton during the life OF nearly Ger tuiy
by the thousand processes which time
and nature employ to cement and consol-
idate a people, at the will and pleasure
Of one Of its parts, be instantly ard
peacefully resolved, not into It's original
elements, but into suppo ed constituent
PARTS, most Of which had had no pa tici-
patton in it's original formation. That was
a question which from its nature could
be settled only by trial, and tie trial
has indeed forever settled that, ard nei-
Their side would wish the decision 10 be
reversed.
no STANDING ARMY.
Are there any other respects in Which
ia may be plausibly suggested that the
political philosophy OF Mr.. Jefferson has
been discredited by the teachings Of eX-
perience? Does the general government
now need a larger delegation of power?
Are there any functions hitherto per-
formed by the States which should be
relegated to the central authocNY 10
we need a large standing army? Must
we confront the gigantic naval arma-
ments Of the European nations with a cor
responding array? Must we mingle in the
ambitions of the great powers OF the
world? Must we extend the area Of our
territorial dominion? Must we look on
and behold with uncOncern the PARTITION
ing Of Africa among the European pow
ers, and the dismemberment 81 China?
Must we assert before the void the
might and majesty Of seventy nj lions OF
the most energetic and productive pco-
pie on the globe? Shall we form alliances
with kindred peoples. or remain in calm
and forbiddlng isolation among The ma
tiOns2 All these questions to when. II
proposed in Mr. Jefferson's time. his
teachings would have returned an answer
in the negative, are likely 10 press them
selves, IL they are not already pressing
themselves upon the public attention
This of course does not permit me 10
indulge in any consideration OF either of
them. but I venture TO express my con-
viction that unless the answer the Ameri-
can people make to them shall be con-
sistent with those principals Of which
Mr.. Jefferson has hitherto been regarded
as the champion there viii be an end OF
true popular government among men. |
There ls-there can be-but one basis OF |
liberty, and that lies in constantly cher !
jshing the dispersion rather than the |
concentration Of power.
MEASURING THE WAR.
The fundamental political philosophy |
of Mr.. jefferson has not been discreditcd /
by time or experience. lt never will be !
discredited while men retain real love |
and a true comprehension OF civil liber- /
~. And never more than at the present |
time has there been a greater necessity |
for studying and teaching within the |
walls OF universities the true principles |
of Republican liberty and the practical !
art OF applying them 10 human affairs.
Recreant indeed would this university /
be TO the fame OF it's founder, 10 the pur-
poses for which II was established, and |
to its own obligations to present and fu- |
lures times II II failed 70 maintain. not !
in the spirit OF dogmatism, but OF devo-
ti0n TO truth. those great PRINCIPLES upon !
which free popular government stands.
IL anything were needed 10 impress
upon patriotic minds the supreme impor-
lance OF cultivating anew these princi-
Piles and implantlng In all hearts the de-
termination TO preserve them. II would
be supplied by the extraordinary specta-
Gle which our country exhibits at the
present moment. We have Voluntarily |
chosen 10 break the peace OF the world
and engage in a war whicr already Inn
poses a heavy burden upon the industry
~ I'D x.rhl lab II