New-York tribune., 1900-10-07
CAMPAIGN COMMENT.
TRIBUNE READERS DISCUSS
THE POLITICAL ISSUES.
JEFFERSON VS.. BRYAN.
THE AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATIONS
VIEWS ON sUBJUGATING "FoREIGN
PEOPLES" AND ON FITNESS
FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT.

FOR sELF-GOvERNMENT.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Mr.. Bryan has in this campaign been
doing much talking about Jefferson, repre-
senting himself the Of Jefferson's
mantle. telling people that the suppression of
Aguinaldos insurrection Is a violation Of the
spirit Of the Declaration Of Independence. and
proclaiming that Jeffersons doctrine Of equality
and the consent Of the governed" meant that
all men, regardless of their civilization fit
TO rule themselves. that it may be worth while
TO examine of Jefferson's own views on
those subjects
1t is well known that Jefferson thought he was
violating the Constitution in purchasing Louisi
ana, but that did not deter him from the
''usurpation." After the purchase some ques-
tion arose of securing possession Of the new ter
ritory. It feared that the native inhabitants
might rise, just the Tagals under Aguinado
did. But Jefferson had no doubts about the
duty of suppressing them and subjecting this
foreign people" to his rule, as is shown by .his
letter to Madison Of September IA 1903:
I think it possible that Spain, recollecting our
former eagerness for the island of New Orleans,
may imagine she can, by free delivery Of that,
redeem the residue Of Louisiana: and that she
may withhold the peaceable cession Of It. In
that case doubt force must be used. CWorks,
Vol s. p. 2t3.)
In the same letter he adds:
Clarke might be trusted to let US know
the force Spain has there. where posted how
the inhabitants are likely TO act if we march
force there, and what numbers of them could be
armed and brought TO act in opposition to us.
Those. Of course were the inhabitants who
were to be governed without reference to
their consent; and this is one Of the passages
in which as Mr. Bryan says, Jefferson used
language with such precision that no one can be
ignorant Of his views"
The practical treatment of the treaty stipula-
tion that the inhabitants of Louisiana should be
incorporated into the Union by the author of the
Declaration Of Independence is interesting, in
view of discussions going on in which Mr. Bryan
IS participating. and of the contention that con-
sistency with and fidelity to the principles epun-
ciated in the Declaration require that self
government should be at once accorded to the
TagaI dictatorship, however such a course would
enable it to tyrannize over other Philippine peo-
pies The inhabitants Of Louisiana. of whom
there were some sixty thousand, were not at
once invested with the privilege of self-govern-
ment. Jefferson gives his ideas as to governing
them in a letter TO Breckenridge dated Novem-
ber "a 1903. thus:
I will only observe therefore, to a single
feature Of the Legislature, that the idea of an
assembly of Notables came into my head while
writing, thing more familiar and pleasant
TO the French than a legislature of judges
True II removes their dependence from the
judges TO the Executive; but this is what they
are used TO and would prefer. Works, Vol
s p. 2S0)
And to lie Witt Clinton, under date Of De-
cember .. 1903, he wrote:
Although il is acknowledged that our new
fellow citizens are yet as incapable Of self
government as children, yet some cannot bring
themselves TO suspend its principles for a single
moment. The temporary or territorial govern
ment of that country, therefore, will encounter
great difficulties CWQrks, Vol s. p. 2S8)
Later on January II, 1904, he wrote to
Thomas Mexican:
We are now at work a territorial govern
ment for Louisiana. 1t win probably be a small
Improvement of our former territorial govern
ments first grade of government. The act
proposes 10 give an assembly of Notables, Sc
lected by the Governor from the principal char
acters of the territory. This will be better
legislature than the former territorial one, and
will not be greater departure from sound prln-
ciples. (Works, Vol. s, p. 293)
Jefferson nowhere claimed this would be self
government. Six months later apparently a
critical situation had been developed because of
a threat Of calling a foreign umpire to settle
existing differences; under stress Of which JEFF
ferson became desirous that Congress should
confer self government without delay, for on
August T. 1904 he wrote to Madison:
sincerely wish that Congress at the next
session may give to the Southwestern territory
q Legislature 10 be chosen by the people, as this
viii advance them quite as fast as the rules of
government Will admit, and the irregular
flies which such legislature may run into VIII
not be so serious as leaving them to the pretext
OF calling in a foreign umpire between them and
US. (Works, Vol. =. p. 3l4D
No account OF Jeffersons attitude these
questions would be quite complete that failed to
include his views Of the fitness for self-govern-
ment of the revoIted Spanish colonists in South
America. Those views were set forth in letter
TO John Adams. dated May Il. 1918, little
more than eight years before those statesmen,
one the author, the other the eloquent advocate
in the Continental Congress of the Declaration
departed this life on July /. 1896. 1t appears
on page 1O7 OF Vol. 10 Of Jeffersons Works:
I enter into all your doubts 10 the event of
the revolution of South America. They will sue
ceed against Spain. But the dangerous enemy
is within their own breasts. Ignorance and
superstition will chain their minds and bodies
under religious and military despotism. dc
believe II would be better for them obtain
freedom by degrees only; because that would
by degrees bring light and information, and
qualify them 10 take charge OF themselves un-
derstandipgly; with more certainty if in the
mean time under so much control as may keep
them peace with one another. Surely, it is
our duty 10 wish them independence and self
government. because they wish il themselves
and they have the right, and we none, to choose
for themselves, and wish, moreover, that our
ideas may be erroneous and theirs prove well
founded.
insert the quotation complete. Some one
may say. Why not apply the last expression to
the Philippines; they have the right, and we
none. to choose for themselves? The answer
Is obvious: that as John Foreman has pointed
out the government so called Of Aguinaldo is
a dictatorship with a limited allegiance and a
determination to tyrannze over the Vsayans
and others; not an illustration of "sef-govern-
ment' in the sense in which Jefferson was
speaking of IT,