Willmar tribune., 1900-05-09
WHAT JEFFERSON WOULD DO.
An Address by Hon. John P. Alteeld on Problems
Now Confronting the Democratic Party De-
Iivered Before the Albany Bimetallic
League of Albany, N. y. April is. 1900.

IL IS uot LOT the pleasure, the sOlace
or the glory of the dead, but for the
instruction, the guidance and the in
splratlon OF the living that we cele-
Drate the birth of one Of the greatest
men known to the annals of freedom.
In law, in medicine, in science, in
government, in war, In every field OF
human activity,the deeds of the mighty
dead light the path for today and point
the road for tomorrow.
Today the men of America who love
liberty and hate oppression, who love
Justice and despise hypocrisy, look to
the shrine Of Thomas Jefferson for
new hope and new courage.
The foundations of the republic are
shaking, and the altars Of liberty are
crumbling. Dirty fingers are laid on
the Goddess of Justice, and soiled
hands are plllaging the temple OF hu-
mainly.
The effort to secure privilege and to
maintain private monopoly in city and
In nation is not only Cobbiug us but
rotting us down.
In America enterprise has come to
mean exploitation, and patriotism has
become new name for plunder. Any
contingent will do,and one hemisphere
is as good as another, so long as the
government can be used for private
enrichment.
Finding the government such prof
table asset, these private monopolists
have taken possession Of it. They
seek to control caucuses, conventions
and elections. They control legisla-
tion, they own courts, and they dictate
to the President of the United States.
Naturally, they select men with no
convictions to do their rear stair
work and betray the public, and they
have brought to the front race OF
men who make deception their busi-
ness and duplicity their stock in trade.
Tho Creatures Of Monopoly.
These men are mere creatures. They
do not rise to the dignity Of politi-
clans, but have the impudence to sit in
chairs once occupied by statesmen.
Through this class Of men the func-
tions OF government have been per-
verted and from being the protector,
it is being made the despoiler of the
people.
At the dlctation Of the combines, the
courts, which were intended to protect
the citizen in his rights, have been
used to strike down trial by jury, that
bu!wark of liberty for which the Eng
lish speaking people have shed more
blood than for any other thing.
Although living In republic, yet In
stead Of being governed by the people
have had established for their COZ
venience, government by injunction,
and according to the whims or preju-
dice Of an individual who acts as their
creature and imprlsons American citi
Eens at pleasure.
Although living in republic and
having no need of an army, the corpo-
rations OF America are fostering
military establishment and the bull
pens OF Idaho, where thousands Of
American citizens were last summer
imprisoned by military authority for
months without warrant, without in
dictment and without trial, merely be-
cause the governor OF the state was
simply convenience for the corpora
tions, show what is in store for the
toilers CT America II this corrupt rule
of the syndicates is not arrested.
For over one hundred years our
country grew great and covered the
land with cities, railroads and shops.
it protected life and property and pun
ished crime. During this time govern
ment by injunction was not heard Of,
and the use of the military as a con-
venience for corporations was not
thought Of. But with the advent Of
private monopoly, growing out of tar
iii laws, growing out of franchises,
growing out Of special privileges, came
race of manipulators and corruption
ists-not captains of industry, but ex-
ploiters of the public, who trample
down the liberty Of the citizen at
home and sneer at the idea of estab
fishing free institutions abroad.
The Decad-nos OF . Party.
Once the republican party stood for
great principles, once 1t had a message
for humanity, once it's leaders were
men of conviction, once it believed In
the Declaration OF Independence; but
the finger of the corporation has erased
every great motto from its banners,
and today the great party Of Lincoln
sits meekly in the market place and
takes it's instructions from the trust
magnates Of America.
Once 1t had conscience, now only
hunger; once it loved liberty, now it
worships the dollar; once it stood for
humanity, now only for plunder. Time
changes, men degenerate and parties
risy passes for coin. The creed of
King George has become the platform
of Mckinley and Mark Hanna's dollar
sign breeches have become the flag of
the republican party.
Under these circumstances it is nat
ural for both republicans and demo-
Gratis to ask what would Jefferson do If
he were here?
But there Is special reason why
democrats should ask this Question,
because among some democrats there
seems to be a misconception Of Jeffer-
sons character.
1have heard men call themselves JET
fersonian democrats who were oppos-
ed to every principle that the great
Virginian advocated.
Who, then, was Jefferson? What