The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-06-01

Democrat to Send a Message to His
To the editor of the News-D Democrat:
A hundred years ago an impc. tant
presidential campaign was in progress,
the first in which the American people
divided on party lines.
Four years before Mr.. Adams became
the president and Jefferson vice-presi-
dent as the former got more electoral
votes than the latter, that being the
rule then.
The Federal party took shape under
the Adams administration and ruled
and dominated with high and arro-
giant hand, enacting the alien and sedi-
tion laws to back their tyranny by the
color Of law. Mr.. Jefferson, in letter
to DR.. Rush, in 1907, refers to the
pleasant evenings they passed together
when II was not advisable to be too
much about in Philadelphia during the
Federal reign Of terror in the winter Of
179S-99, and after. Many Democratic
members of congress were home during
the session at that time owing to the
malevolent and threatening spirit Of
those in power.
Mr. Jefferson was an object of Fed
way, both from pulpit and press and
otherwise. AS vice-president, however,
he continued to preside over the senate
with his usual urbanity and equanim-
ity.
1t was quite natural that the people
should turn to Jefferson as their leader
in the emergency. To all this Federal
ism helped, for he was the man they
feared, and they as well as the people
knew that he was the author of the
immortal Declaration of American In
dependence and 1t was known too that
he was still believer in the doctrines
declared in the Declaration, and was
not disposed to adopt the British system
in finance or otherwise. He did not be-
lieve in paper money banks. nor that a
public debt was public blessing.
Coined money as required by the consti-
tuition, and gold and silver as legal
tender, were Mr.. Jefferson's ideas.
One need not refer to the triumphant
election of Mr.. Jefferson and the utter
overthrow of Federalism. The people
rallied for the right and were victorious.
In 1904 Mr.. Jefferson was reelected
without much opposition and the De-
mocracy in the main continued to rule
tered upon different era, which we
hope to see changed by the election this
year of the gallant and capable William
Jennings Bryan. Surely, change is
much and sorely needed.
The writer hereof has met with citi-
zens who entertained anything but a
good opinion of Mr.. Jefferson, having
inherited prejudices without investiga-
ton. None of them, however. could
charge him with ever failing to be the
genial and accomplished gentleman
From his earliest years he sought and
kept good company and never sent MOI
received a challenge to fight a duel
John Adams and his wife, in their later
years, corresponded in friendly inter-
course with Mr.. Jefferson. We do not
read of Thomas Jefferson ever having
had personal alteration with anyone
Surely every honest, observing Ameri.
can citizen must realize the necessity
of electing in this year of grace, and as
a Jefferson centennial testimonial, q
worthy successor to the Sage of Monti.
cello. A most worthy successor would
be William Jennings Bryan, ripe and
accomplished statesman and orator
with clear and conscientious convic'
tions and firmness of purpose. He would
be no weak instrument In the hands OF
schemers and plunderers. He would bt
the man to inaugurate the reforms
which are SO much needed.
We append the following three letters
of the late Samuel ]. Tilden, taker
from volume H., pages 514-521. Mr.. TIL
denis remarks upon Jefferson and Jack
son are well worth noting at this time:
Mr. Tilden wrote letter on jackson
and Democracy" in answer to an In
vitation to attend banquet OF thu
Iroquois club, at Chicago, March 10
1882 In this letter Mr.. Tilden said;
"He represented one exultant nation
ality of sentiment which had always
characterized the Democracy, and III
manifested in a great public crisis hi
own invincible determination to main
tain the territorial integrity of oul
country and the indissoluble union o.
the states. He likewise represented thu
beneficent Jeffersonian philosoph,
which prefers that nothing shall b
done by the general government which
the local authorities are competent Il
do, and nothing by any governmental
power which individuals can do TO-
themselves. The great contests durinl
his administration arose ous OF his ef
forts to rsVst the usurpation by con