The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-07-20

principle which ought to limit our
views. Nothing should ever be accep-
ted which would require a navy to de-
fend it,
In the same letter, speaking of the
possible acquisition of that island, he
said:
II would Immediately erect column
on the southernmost limit in Cuba and
inscribe on 1t ne plus ultra as to us
in that direction"
1t may be argued that Jefferson was
wrong in asserting that we should con-
fine our possessions to the North Amer
lean continent, but certainly no one can
truthfully quote him as an authority
for excursions into the eastern hemis-
phere. If he was unwilling to go fur
ther south than Cuba, even in the wes-
tern hemisphere, would he be likely TO
look with favor upon colonies in the
Orient?
If the authority Of Jefferson can be
invoked to support the acquisition of
remote territory, much less can his
great name be used to excuse a colonial
policy which denies to the people the
right to govern themselves.
When he suggested an inscription for
his monument he did not enumerate the
honors which he had received, though
no American had been more highly
honored; he only asked to be remem-
bered for what he had done, and he
named the writing of the declaration of
independence as the greatest of his
deeds.
mo GOVERNMENT BY EXTERNAL
FORCE"
In that nnannra hla document ha
clared it self-evident truth that gov
ernments derived their Just powers
from the consent of the governed. The
defence and development Of that doc
trine was his special care. His writ
ings abound with expressions showing
his devotion to that doctrine and his
solicitude for it. He preached it in the
enthusiasm of his youth; he reiterated
1t when he reached the age of maturity;
he crowned it with the benediction Of
his old age. Who will say that If liv-
ing, he would jeopardize it today by
engrafting upon 1t the doctrine of gov
ernment by external force.
Upon the fourth proposition Jefferson
is no less explicit. Now, when some are
suggesting the wisdom Of a military
government for the Philippines or a
colonial system such as England ad-
ministers in India, it will not be out
of place to refer to the manner in which
Jefferson viewed the inability of aliens
to prescribe laws and administer gov
ernment. In 1917 French society was
formed for the purpose of settling upon
a tract of land near the Tombigbee
river. Jefferson was invited to formu-
late laws and regulations for the socie-
ty. On the 10th of January of that year
he wrote from Monticello expressing his
high appreciation of the confidence ex-
pressed in him, but declined to UNDER
take the task. The reasons he gave are
well worth considering at this time.
After wishing them great happiness in
their undertaking, he said:
THE laws, however, which must ef-
feet this must flow from their own hab-
its, their own feelings and the resources
of their own minds. No stranger to
these could possibly propose regulations
adapted to them. Every people have
their own particular habits, ways of
thinking, manners, etc., which have
grown up with them from their infan-
cy, are become part of their nature, and |
to which the regulations which are to
make them happy must be accommc-
dated. No member of foreign coun-
try can have sufficient sympathy with
these. The institutions of Lycurgus,
for example, would not have suited |
nor those of Solon, Lacedaemon.
The organizations of Locke were i'm /
practicable for Carolina, and those of /
Rossou for Poland. Turning inwardly /
on myself from these eminent illustra-
tons OF the truth of my observation, I |
feel all the presumption it would mani
Test should undertake to do what this
respectable society is alone qualified to
10 suitably for itself"
ALIEN LACKS SYMPATHY WITH
U.s."
The alien may possess greater intel
igence and greater strength, but he
acks the sympathy for and the iden-
ification with the people. We have
'nly to recall the grievances enumera-
ed in the declaration of independence
% learn how an ocean may dilute JUS
ice and how the cry of the oppressed |
AN be silenced by distance. And YET
he inhabitants of the colonies were the
descendants of Englishmen-blood of
heir blood and bone of their bone.
'hallwe be more considerate Of subjects l.
urther away from us, and differing
rom us in color, race and tongue, than
he English were of their own Off
pring?
Modest Jefferson! He had been gov
rnor, ambassador to France, vice.
PRESIDENT and president; he was ripe
n experience and crowned with honors;
'ut this modern lawgiver, this immor-
al genius, hesitated to suggest laws
or people whose habits, customs and
Methods Of thought he was unfamiliar.
And yet the imperialists Of today.
intoxicated by taste of blood, are
ash enough to enter upon the govern
nent of the Filipinos, confident of the
lation's ability to compel obedience.
ven If 1t cannot earn gratitude or win
Election. Plutarch said that men en-
ertained three sentiments concerning
he ancient gods:
They feared them for their strength.
them for their wisdom and
owed them for their Justice.