Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-31
BRY-ANIsM IS JEFFERsoNIsM.

4 " 4
The Joint resolution of the Virginia
Legislature, inviting Mr.. Bryan as 1.-THE
greatest living exponent of Jefferson
ian Democracy" to address that body,
has the true ring, and finds a warm re-
Spouse in the heart of every true Vir-
GINA Democrat. Mr.. Bryan will ac
cept the invitation, IL he can. and a
great speech may be expected from him
where the inspirations of jefferson are
still vivid. 1.-THE Virginia Resolutions"
of December. 1913, embodied Jefferson's
political views. and these were reiter-
ated, substantially. in the platform of
| 1900 upon which jefferson was first
elected President of the United States.
In this first Democratic platform, OPP
position to imperialism and milltarism
with Federal Capitalization, were the
most prominent principles. "Opposi-
ton to monarchizing" the features of
the constitution "by the forms OF adj
minlstration," to facilitate. first,
transition to President and Senate
for life, and, secondly. to q hereditary
| tenure of those offices, and thus to
worm out the elective principles" OPP
OF the State to the General Government,
and all OF those of that government to
the Executive branch; opposition "to
multiplication of officers and salaries,
merely to create partisans, and to aug
ment the public debt, on the principle
of It's being public blessing"
The fifth declaration of this initial
platform proclaims strong antagonism
to militarism, by a"reliance for inter-
nal defense solely upon the militia, till
actual invasion, and for such naval
force only as may be sufficient to pro-
tect our coast and harbor from depre-
dations. and opposition. therefore, to
the policy of a standing army In time
OF peace which may overawe the pub
lie ointment. and to navy which, by
It's own expenses, and the wars into
which 1t will implicate us, will grind
us with public burdens and sink us
under them
Free trade and opposition to entang-
ling alliances are announced in dec
laration for free commerce with all
nations. political connection with none,
little or no diplomatic establishment;
opposition to linking ourselves. by
new treaties. with the quarrels of Eu-
rore entering their fields of slaughter
to preserve their balance, OR JOINING
IN THE CONrEDERACY OF KINGS
TO WAR AGAINST THE PRINCE
PIES OF LIBERTY"
The enunciation for freedom of
speech and the press, Is followed by op-
position Ito all violations of the con-
stitution to silence. by force, and not by
reason, the complaints or criticisms Of
our citizens. just or unjust, against the
conduct of their public agents ;-the
platform concluding with favorIng "the
encouragement OF science and the arts
in all their branches, to the end that
the American people may perfect their
independence of all foreign monopolies
institutions and influences"
That is Democracy, pure and unde-
filed. 1t is also Jeffersonism, as it is
! Organism. with "a vigorously frugal
administration" and the Unavoidable
preservation of the Federal constitu-
ton, according to the true sense in
which 1t was adopted by the States"
From the first Thomas Jefferson
sternly opposed the institution of the
United States Bank, and in his Life
Of Jefferson" Smucker says: "Sim-
pie. broad and comprehensive in his
premises, he went upon the axiom that
limited constitution. restricted by spe-
cial grants of power, could not author
lie a sovereign exercise of authority
which no part of that instrument al
lowed or granted in express terms:
that the power to create a national
bank was in Its very nature one too
vast and influential over the whole
rights and interests of the reorle to be
either necessary or an incidental
power to others expressly granted; an |
| that it were better for the harmony
and success of the whole Union, to
forego the exercise of doubtful DOW
| err"
| AS to the National Bank itself and
it's branches, Mr. Jefferson said: "This
institution Is one of-the-nest- deadly
hostility existing against the principles
and forms OF our constitution An in
stitution like this, penetrating by it's
branches every part of the Union, act
ing by command and in phalanx, may
in critical moment upset the Gov