The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1900-09-22

Leuce VI Cue 0IeuenI VI iuuepcuu'
ence, and independence is the most
markedly absent of all American
traits, when it comes to matters
political. We fondly imagine
/ ourselves free in all things, and
are puffed up with pride over oul
vaunted political independence,
yet we are so far removed from
such o state that the dictates OF
conventions supplant individual
convictions, and the Judgment OF
the man becomes subservient to
the will of the party.
This is infinitely truer of Amer
lea than of England, and, through
stress of conditions, applies more
forcibly to the South than to
the North.
In the South party loyalty
which is but another term tor
political consistency on the part of
the mass of voters, is at great
err premium than in the North
hence the practically still "solid
South" with the doubtful states''
in the other section.
One of the most inconsistent
among the fathers of the Republic
was the founder of the Democrat
ic party, -and'this lack of consis-
tency was his greatest element of
strength.
He thought for himself, and
formed his own opinions, and
never hesitated to 60 directly
counter to his expressed convlc-
tions, when he became satisfied
that another course was proper.
In short, he reserved to himself
the right to change his mind, and,
as he lived in a different time from
ours, did not call down upon his
head the vituperation Of his coun-
trymen every time he did it.
Jefferson spoke of.the ''inherent
right to liberty" while practising
slavery; he has ever been the &C
credited champion of the theoret-
ical government wherein all pow
ers are derivable from the consent
of the governed only, yet he dis
tinctly wrote that ''the qualifca-
tons of selt-government x 4 are
not innate. They are the result of
habit and long training; his
words are today the inspiration of
those who would set the Filipinos
adrift, upon the idea that any race
of men on earth, whether created
by the fiat Of God, or developed
through the slow process of evo-
luton, is fitted for self-govern-
ment; yet, in considering the race
which has left its indelIble i'm
press upon the Filipino, though
infinitely his superior lnintellect, =
the Spaniards in South and Cen
trail America, he gave it as his
solemn conviction that ''the Span
iards'are too heavily oppressed by
ignorance and superstition for self
government, and whether a change
from foreign to domestic despot-
ism will be to their advantage re-
mains to be seen" Decade fol-
lowing decade bears testimony to
the justice of his fears.
Jefferson was originally one Of
the strongest opponents of the
/ Constitution, yet he afterwards
came to regard it with great favor;
one Of his strongest grounds Of
|opposltlon. to it,was that it did not
Ishiekifieally, make the president
s'forever Ineligible a second time,"
and he said, i'm speaking of the
president, under such a constitu-
ton. he s'seems bad edition of
Polish King. : He may be
elected from tours to four years
for life. Reason and experience
proveto US that q chief magistrate,
SO continuaDle. is an officer for
life. - Once in Office, and
possessing the military force of
the Unlou, he would not be easily
dethroned = = :" yet no meG
did more to induce Washington
to accept : second term, going SO
far as to say that the safety and
perpetuity of the Union depended
upon his adding more to the
many years you have already sac
rifced to the good Of mankind"
Dir. Jefferson said that he con-
sidered 'sthe British as our nation