The times., 1898-04-14

OF the founder of the American Republic
and the Democratic party. There can
be no possible restriction or limitation to
his teachings He dealt with a nation
of less than four million people. When
he died there were less than ten mil
lions
Would he have changed or modified his
creed when confronted with it's applica
ton to seventy millions of people?
do not know. | only know that the
Republic of Jefferson's time has ceased
to exist One hundred years from the
date of his Presidency it is far greater
in domain and membership. 1t is grand
er in its proportions. Its resources are
iimitless. 1t needs to ask only what is
its interest to do, not what it has the
power to do.
The most pertinent questions of all are:
Does it mete out equal justice to all re-
gardless of station or condition; and do
its laws affect all alike? Are they made
for all alike?
Jefferson's sole reliance for the per-
petuity of this nation was upon the peo-
pie. He made no distinction of creed or
circumstances, or of requirements. eth
er of wealth or intelligence His axiom
was both broad and exact "Independ-
ence can be trusted no where but witt
the mass He declared: ''If they are
not enlightened enough to exercise con-
troll with a wholesome discretion, there
is no remedy but to inform them" There
can be no justification of any proposi-
ton to take power from them until they
| become sufficiently intelligent to make
good use of it. For who would the judges
be of the time when they may safely
become the repositories of absolute CON
troll? Those who were enjoying it mean
while
But is it possible to carry so admirable
a belief into practice? Are we not re-
cpuln2 thn,,
the desired result? Are our elections
purer than they were in 1900? Are the
! electors as worthy of trust? Do they dis
| charge the great responsibility with an
appropriate sense of it's gravity? Is it
possible to so sharply and clearly define
| the issues of a political contest that a
lalr proportion of the thirteen mil
| lions of voters may express by
! their ballots their honest opinions?
! And when defined is it pos
| sible by any laws that can be placed upon
the statute books of the nation or of the
States to prevent perversion of their
| verdict by bribery, by deception by force
! or by official fraud?
| If, as Jefferson declared-and who would
| gainsay it-that governments derive their
| just powers from the consent of the gov
| erned-when in late years has that con-
| sent been fairly obtained and honestly re-
| corded? Was it in 1876, when force was
| employed by those who were in power to
| prevent the installation of the man whom
! the people had chosen and elected Presi-
| dent of the United States? Or was 1t in
1896, when bribery and cowardice ac-
complished the defeat of a man which no
/ possible combination of forces could have
! kept out of the executive office if he had
| once been officially designated as it's
| rightful occupant?
Have we outgrown republicanism? Is
! real, true democracy safe? VIII the gov
| be adapted to four or ten millions of peo-
pie fit and meet the demands of one hun
dred millions? Is the intelligence of such
a vast number equal to the intelligence of
a less number.
Shall We admit that it is not, and that
| we would be wiser to let the policies of
| our Government be constructed and
changed as the wealthy and experienced
of the financial and commercial centers
of this and the old world deem most fit
| and proper?
These questions must be answered-this
great issue must be met. Stated in its
simplest form it would be: Shall money
| or men rule this nation? Dollars or
votes?
"Wretched, indeed" said Mr.. jefferson,
sis the nation in whose affairs foreign
powers are permitted to intermeddle."
And yet, who does not know. whether
he is willing or not to admit it, that for
eign influence settled the last Presiden-
tiaI election, and that foreign influence
has well-nigh prevented us from vindi-
eating our national honor while induc-
ing or seducing us to abstain from obey
ing the common instincts of humanity in
behalf of a people striving heroicaly for
freedom and independence
Is this l ask you, the Republic of
Washington, Jefferson, and Jackson? If
not how shall we restore it-by what
methods and when?
Mr.. Amos ]. Cummings, of New York,
responded to the toast:
Our endeavor should surely be to make
our hemisphere that of Freedom" (Jef-
ferson)
THE tendency in the struggle for lib
erty was to hang on the past" declared
Mr.. Cummings.
Eternal vigilance is the price of lib
erty. but wealth gained by unbridled
greed is the destruction of liberty.
' The love of money said Paul, was
the root of all evil" 1t made necessary
a Saviour. who cleared the temple when
he was only twelve years old, which
shows they We're a cowardly set
at was greed that stimulated slave
breeding and nearly discovered the I'm
Ion.
1T is greed that has restricted us to a
single gold standard.
1T is greed that has given rise to trusts
and combines
1T is greed that has locked up our coal
mines and cornered the necessities of
life.
1T is greed that is manufacturing
statesmen, not to serve, but to dominate
the people.
Greed creeps in and corrodes and cor
rupts the people.
1--WE have given away so much that We
have raised a power that threatens TO
destroy democracy.
I'VE must uphold these principles of
! Democracy as laid down by Jefferson. or
We may be sure that we will follow the
republics that have gone before us y
change has got to come.
There is no mistaking the significance
of the words of Jackson, when he said
this federal union must and shall be pre-
served
1--WE have not now to preserve the fed
| eral union, but what we have to do is TO
rescue our institutions from the thral-
dom of greed.
There are indications that this stan
dard of liberty is about TO raise again,
but the Democracy need have no fear
for it is itself the true spirit of liberty.
THE hesitation to recognize the re-
public OF Cuba would be an unpardon-
able crime. Democracy demands the in
dependence of Cuba, and If Spain wants
to declare war we can blow her out of
the waters of the Western Hemisphere.
independence with peace if possible.
but war if necessary
Mr. w. A Jones, of Virginia, responded
eloquently to the toast THE State that
gave us Jefferson
Mr.. Jones paid an eloquent tribute to
the Old Dominion and her sons, both of
tha elder day and of the day that has
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