Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-09-07
THE CREED OF DEMoCRAUY.

From Thomas Jetferson's first inaugural
address We take these words "Let Us hasten
to retrace our steps, and regain the road
which alone leads 10 peace, liberty and
safety"
We quote the above as the very essence
of the creed Of the Democracy. The aims
and purposes OF political organization
which was An absolute essentially 10 the
establishment of free government In which
the rights Of man" found secure Judgment
We also quote it because ii shows the con
ception OF the object of government as en-.
tertained by those who were recognized as
masters In political philosophy. and whose
creative minds lead the people TO iull re-
alization of a practical application of the
principles oil Democracy to the needs and
development OF man.
Were the people Of this day as anxious
for the preservation OF liberty as were those
who fought to establish the Republic of the
United States Of America these words of
Thomas Jefferson would find an earnest
and active approval in the mind and heart
OF all patriotic citizens. II is not, however,
probable the present managers of the Re.
publican party would take the slightest
heed to them The same honesty of pur-
pose and the same fidelity to truth of the
men who aided 10 the great struggle which
separated our country from Great Britain
do not possess the men who are 10 charge of
our national public affairs, and who are con-
trolling the policy of William McKiDley's
administration. Their minds have evidently
wandered from the object which was upper
most and controlling in the brains and
hearts Of the founders of the republic, but
our Republican party leaders show no dis
position to "retrace our steps and regain
the road which alone leads to peace, liberty
and safety" A spirit of wild confusion has
possessed our rulers, and things venerable
and sacred have been replaced by things
fresh and novel. Instead OF fathoming still
deeper the wells Of truth which the fathers
discovered, they have discarded trident and
compass and, spreading To its limit untried
canvas, have set sail on unfamiliar waters,
with night and tempest surrounding them.
President Mckinley is not Of the same
temper as jefferson. The latter was sincere
and devoted to the purposes Of consttu-
tional authority, holding that 1t was the
"sheet anchor" OF the republic, and that a
faithful adherence to its principles was the
surest method Of perpetuating and making
eternal the republican fabric. Mr. McKin
ley has moulhed a great deal about the con-
stitution, but In practice he has discarded
and violated II with brutal lorce. He looks
upon il as a worn-out instrument, suited,
perhaps, necessary in the infancy OF the re
public, which met all the requirements of
ignorant, honest statesmen, almost vulgar In
its intensity.
But then there were no statesmen In those
days like Hanna, or Payne, or Rathbone, or
Medley There were no sugar oarons, nor
coal magnates, nor cormorant trust managers.
There were men Of ordinary caliber. such as
the elder Adams and jefferson, Hancock
and Madison. Henry and Quincy Adams,
and quite 40 array oil other pretensious PEG.
pie who had been factors 10 the revolution
airy struggle, and of otherwise less impor
lance. No Hanna, no Mckinley, no Hay
lived 10 those days. 10 truth, there was nc
room for their class, and yet there was plenty
Of room for men who loved liberty and favor.
ed justice.