Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-15
JEFFERsoNIAN DEMOCRACY.
Views Held by tho Illustrious Statesman
As ENpounded In lila own
Writings.
Saws the Amerlcnni

Says the American;
The scope and purposes OF tho Jofforso-
nlnn CyoopedIn cannot DO more briefly
stated than In the following words from
the preface. "rho JeffersOnlan Cyclope-
dln IL designed 10 be u complete classified
arrangement OF the writings OF Thomas
Jefferson ON government, politics, law,
education commerce, agriculture manu-
features, navigation, finance morals, re-
ligi0us freedom, and many other topics
of permanent human interest, II con-
talns everything of Importance that Jei-
fersOn wrote on these subjects" In II the
editor has sought 10 arrange ana class
fly the theories and principles OF Jef-
fcrson, no ug 70 make them nYnllnDle
IN rendy reference form" and further TO
make ~ manual Of Jeffersonian doctrine
accurate, complete impartial, giving JEFF
Persons views theories ana idenlS IN MS
own words,
We recommend The following to the
thoughtful consideration of our read
ers.
The influence over government must be
shared amOng al the people, IT every IN
divIdual which composes their mass par
flclpates In the ultimate authority, the
government win be safe; because the
corrptlng Of the whole mass Will exceed
my private resources OF wealth, and pub
lie ones cannot DO provided but by lovles
on the people In this case every man
would have TO pay his own price.
Here do we find briefly but clearly
stated the prime reasons and neces-
sity for popular voice in government
,nnd the unreasonable advantages to
be gained and preserved, Again says
Jefferson;
The rights of the people to the exercise
aud fruits Of their own industry can
never be protected against the sel0shnoss
OF rulers not subject to their control at
short periods,
For practical application of this
maxim we turn TO direct legislation.
And could there be better argument
for the imperative mandate than Is to
be found here?
Unless tho mass retains sufficient con-
troll over those intrusted with the powers
OF their government, these Will DC per-
vertod to their own oppression, and to tho
perpetuatIon OF wealth and power In the
individuals and their families selected for
the trust, Whether our constitution has
hit on the exact degree OF control neces-
gary, Is yet under experiment
And then, to sum up, we quote the
following which state m0Xims so true
ms TO be indisputable;
Governments are more or less republic
can as they have more or less OF the
element of popular election and control
in their composition, The people Will err
sometimes and accidentally, but never de-
signcdly and with systematic and per-
severing purpose OF overthrowing the
free principles OF the government.
Turning to another point we find
this:
Were I called upon to decide whether
the people had best be omitted In the
legislative or judicial department, would
say II X better to leave them out OF tho
Legislative, The execution OF the laws
is more important than the making them.
This is n recognition clear and dis
tinct that the judiciary is human and
hence fallablc, and may, with equal
propriety, be advanced as an argument
for putting the judiciary within the
power of the people. Elsewhere wrote
Jefferson:
We already see the power, installed for
life, responsible to no authority. (for Inn
parchment Is not even scare-crow) ad-
vanclng with n nolseless and steady pace
10 the great object OF consolidation. The
foundations are already deeply laid by
their decisions for the the humiliation
OF constitutional state rights and the reA
moval Of every check, every counterpoise
TO the ongulphing power Of which them
selves nre to make sovereign part. Let
the future appointments OF Judges be
for four or six years, and removable by
the president and senate. This viii bring
their conduct, ut regular periods under
revision and probation, and may keep
them In equlpolse between the general
and special governments,
Here, then, do we see that jefferson
forcsaw and appreciated the dangers
likely to arise TO popular government
from our judicial system. And seek
ing a way to guard against them, in
which direction did he look for relief?
Toward the sovereign people.
A better remedy think and indeed
the best can devise, would be to give
future commissions TO judges for six
years NInc bGnulOTlHl lcTIn) WIN n reap
portability by the president with the APP
probation OF both houses. That the house
Of representatives imports majority Of
citizens, that of the senate u majority
of states, and that both n majority OF
the three sovereign departments OF the
existing government, to wit, of It's exec
utlve and legislative branches.
Apopros Of certain tendencies of the
hour, we quote the following:
There can be no question, In mind
truly American, whether II is best to send
our citizens and property into certain
captivity, and then wage war for their re-
covery, or to keep them at home, and to
turn seriously to that policy which plants
the manufacturer and the husbandman
side by side and establishes at tho door
of every one that exchange of mutual la
bors ana comforts, which we have hith-
erto sought In distant regions, and under
perpetual risk of broils with them.
s----