Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1900-08-31

AOOuI TO enter, Fellow citizens
upon the exercise of the duties which
comprehend everything dear anc
valuable to you, it is proper tha
you should understand what deem
the essential principles of our gov
ernment. and consequently thos.
which ought to shape its administra
ton. L will compress them w.thir
the narrowest compass they viii
bear, stating the general principle
but not all it's limitations. EQua
and exact Justice to all men, of what
ever state or persuasion, religious OF
political; peace, commerce and hon
est friendship with all nations, en-
tangling alliances with none; the
support of the state governments in
all their rights as the most compe-
tent administrations for our domes-
tic concerns, and the surest bulwarks
against anti-republicaA tendencies;
the preservation of the general Gov
ernment in its whole constitut onal
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 md safe cor
rectlve of abuses which are lopped
L
by the sword of revolution where
peaceable remedies are uDprovided.
absolute acquiscence in the decisions
Oh the majority, the vital principle of
republics, from which there is no ap-
peal but to force, the vital principle
and Immediate parent of despotism:
a well-dl>ciplined militia, Gu best
reliance III p ace, am fn; the first
moments OF wal, till rtgul.'rs may re,
iieve them; ire supremacy of th
civil over the military authority: econ
omy In tie public expraSc, that Ia
Dor may be lightly burdened; the
honest payment Of our debts and
sacred preservation of the public
faith; encourage. of agriculture,
and of commerce as its handmaid.
the diffusion Of infol nation and ar
raignment of all abuses at the bar of
public reason; freedom of religion.
freedom OF the press, and freedom of
person, under the protection of the
habeas corpus, aud trial 10y iuries
impartlally selected. These principles
form the bright constellation which
has gone before us aud guided our
steps through an age of revolution
and reformation. The wisdom of
our sages and blood of our heroes
have been devoted to their attain.
ment; they should be the creed of
our political faith, the text of civic
instruction, the touchstone by which
to try the services of those we trust;
and should we wander from them in
moments of error or o; alarm, let US
hasten to retrace our steps, and to
regain the road which alone leads
to peace. liberty and safety. From
Thomas Jeferson's first inao gural
address.
We quote the foregoing as the
very essence of the creed of the
Democracy
Were the people OF this day as
anxious for the preservation of lib
erty as were those who fought to
establish the Republi OF the Ucited
States of America those words of
Thomas Jefferson would find an
earnest and active approval in the
mind and heart of all patriotic citi.
zens. 1t is not, however probable
that the present managers of the
Republican party will give the
slightest beed to tue truths which
MIR. Jefferson uttered. Their minds
have wandered from the obje ct which
was uppermOst and con rolling i'm the
brains and hearts OF the fou nders of
the republic, but our Republican
party leaders show no disposition TO
''retrace steps and to regain the road
which alone leads to peace, liberty
and safety" A spirit of wild con-
fusion has possessed our rulers, ard
things venerable and sacred have
been replaced by the things fresh
and novel.
President Mckinley is not of the
fame temper as Jefferson. He has
mouthed great deal about the con-
stitution, bot in practice be has dis
carded and violated it with brutal
force. He looks upon it as worn
out instrument, suited, perhaps.
necessary, in the infancy of the re
public, which met all the require
ments of ignorant yet honest states
meu, almost vulgar in it's intensity.
But then, there were no states