The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-14

The natal day of the apostle of Amerl-
brated throughout the land by those who
remain true to the political philosophy
which found such profound and eloquent
expression in his writings, and such ad-
mirable realization in the political In
stitutions of his native land.
No man can accept the teachings of
Jefferson without being an American pa
tIiot and a lover of his fellow man. No
man can Identify his public conduct with
the political organization founded by JEFF
ferson without being an ardent believer
in the principles of human equality and
right. 1t may be that all such men do
not agree, at all times, In their under
standing of that philosophy, or in their
conception of its proper embodiment and
expression in the policy of that party.
1t Is none the less, on the united and CO..
operative action in American political
life of those who accept that philosophy
reliance must ever rest for the conserva-
ton of American representative fnsti-
tutions.
1t is only those who would, either blind
~ or knowingly, hand over the destinies
of these states to the dominion of an Of
fical despotism that can rejoice at the
exclusion of the Democracy from control
in the political affairs of either state or
federal government From him who eats
his bread in the sweat of his face TO
him who by superior requirements or op-
portunities is able to avoid the need of
eXhausting toll, there is no true Ameri-
can friend of the co-equal civil and no.
htical rights of all men, rich and poor.
strong and weak. who accepts the polit-
zeal philosophy Of Thomas Jefferson. but
must be profoundly convinced that the
union of all such men on a platform
OF common political action is of far more
moment at this time than the ascendancy
OF any passing understanding of political
eXpediency or of the special views of
any number of individuals, whoever or
whatever they may be-
" HeH the rate or the young republic
trembled in the balance, and men of the
same convictions as those who TODAY
preach the doctrine of imperialism stood
ready to force down the scale of destiny
toward the old dependence on England,
jefferson found the masses of the Ameri
can people arrayed in serried ranks to
uphold him and to defeat a conspiracy
which finds its almost exact parallel to-
day in the efforts of our modern Anglo
maniac faction. His principles triumphed
then. All divisions We're hushed in the
presence of the supreme danger which
confronted the future of the American
system. The conspiracy of the Anglo-men
of that day was defeated; and in the
spring of 1799-just 100 years ago-the
American people awol1e from the night
mare of imperialism and dependence on
England. The elections of 1900 sent the
founder of our party to the presidential
chair. The cause of American represent
ative government was saved, and for an
entire generation the Democracy ruJed
and deep and secure the foundations of
the liberties we enjoy today.
Are We who inherit the traditions and
convictions of those halcyon days of the
Democracy less patriotic or devoted than
the men who then fought to save the ma
ton from the friends of the English svs.
tenn, the enemies of representative gov
eminent? Is there nothing of inspiration
in the tremendous danger in which orr
government now stands, of being per
verified from the mission on which il en-
tered 100 years ago, under the guidance
of him whom we all honor? Is the con-
viction nowhere to be found in practical
application that Democrats can bear and
forbear now as they did then? Is it he
who talks longest and ioudest and often
est about the principles handed down to
Us by Jefferson who alone has the pre-
sc.iptive right to call himself Democrat?