The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-03

the formation of the Constitution. and
who was its great expounder, knew how TO
apply these principles of self-goyernment
to men. He was the author OF the deciara-
ton that 'all government derives its just
powers from the consent OF the governed.
When he penned that language he had IN
mind both government and the men 10
whom IL should be applied. he doubtless
had i'm mind his associates, the heroes of
the revolution, who had enjoyed an al
vanced degree of civil liberty for more than
three hundred years and whose ancestors
were intelligent and brave people as
lived upon the globe, and fully the peers
of their English ancestors VINO were Try
ing to govern them in disregard or the priH-
ciples of that self-government wnlcn they
had long enjoyed. AS a great law giver.
student of social problems and the propnet
of republican government, JEFFERSON useo
the famous phrase, consent Oh the eve
erTed' in its application TO the case De-
fore him. He was so perfect master IN
the use of language, such model III prev
ity and force, that 1t cannot be Supposeu
that he made any mistake here: He knew
that the exercise of the intelligence ana
voition involved in consent TO govern
ment' more than the mere passive
submission of an incapable, child or an
infant; that ii was the exercise Oh an
intelligent sovereignty by one or general
class who is politically the peer OF those
who govern him, TO whom he mas Ior the
time being delegated the power or gov
eminent which he himself was capable OF
exercising The language used is subject 10
the further limitation as meaning the con-
sent of the majority of those capable Oh
giving intelligent, lawful consent TO gov
eminent.
Parallel with the conservative and wise
advice of Jefferson as to self-government
and consent of the governed let the rdui-
cal demands of Mr.. Bryan for immediate
self-government for the Porto Rlcans anu
Filipinos, who have no experience In the
exercise of civil liberty; and VINO woulu no. no.
be i'm a position TO claim it but for the
yalor of American arms and the sacrl-
flee of American blood and treasure. Let
the declaration of the Republican natiohai
platform as - the future government OF
the island inhabitants be considered In the
same connection, and then let IL De de-
termined which bears the closest analogy
to the teachings of Jefferson. 'Ihe iargest
measure of self-government consistent
with their welfare and our duties snail De
secured to them Republican nationai
PLATFORM
of Jefferson upon expansion and self-gov-
eminent. though it leads me to the sup
port of the Republican national ticket,
rather than TO merely continue in the mousse
in which Jefferson taught, but which IL
now occupied by Populist masters.
Prior to 1896 / had given twenty years
of active and faithful service 10 the DEM
ocratic party. Indeed, could wen nave
exclaimed, from political STANDPOINT, as
one of old did of his religion, that, AFTER
the straitest of our sect, L was Demo-
crat. These services to the party were not
Without recognition IN Calls 10 places VI
public and party trust. In the discharge or
these trusts the party never complained
of my fidelity to its highest interests. The
obligations upon my part for the support
given me by the party and its individual
members l always regarded in the same
light as any other personal debt, and paid
them off as l did other debts and with the
same fidelity, never pleading the statute OF
limitations against a debt of either class
Indeed, my zeal and love for the party and
my party associates carried me silently
along against my convictions in 1896, as was
we'll known, to the support of William j.
Bryan. The opportunities of lifetime for
the exercise of the elective franchise in the
choice of a chief magistrate are too few to
justify me in lending further encourage
ment to false principles.
mo superior service can now be done the
country than to roll back the tide of Popu-
lism, radicalism and reaction by the defeat
of William j. Bryan All true patriots
should unite in upholding the hands of the
President while bearing the destinies of our
country onward and upward, in war, in
peace, in diplomacy and in development to
that point where this country will soon be-
come the creditor nation of the world
wv. c. DUNCAN.
columbus Ind. Aug. "a.