The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-05
THn JEFFERSON ANNIVERSARY.

il is worthy of note that the last an
niversary of the birth Of that great
politician, statesman, philosopher and
humanitarian, Thomas Jefferson, passed
without practically any observance of it
by his countrymen Nor, indeed, has the
failure to observe 1t called for any par
ticular attention on the part either Of
press or people.
There never was a period in our politi-
cal history since the days of the alien
and sedition laws when the practical OBJ
servance Of the political doctrines as
ISOLATED with the name of Jefferson were
more necessary to the well-being Of the
American nation and people We have
reached a stage of social and industrial
development where it may safely be said
that the choice will have to be made be-
fore long between the teachings Of Karl
Marx and the socialists of his school and
those OF the author of the Declaration Of
American independence Jefferson's
teachings must remain the chart and
compass for every intellect which seeks
to aid in steering the ship Of state safely
through the deep waters of constitutional
p government
Since his death, and not among his con-
temporaries does as imposing a figure
appear. He will remain for all time the
chief inspired mind even among the
American statesmen who at any period
of our history arrayed themselves on the
side Of the people against power and spe-
cial privilege. His teachings have better
stood the test\o century of examina-
ton than those Of any other political or
social philosopher of his time or since.
All the abuse and calumny that have
been heaped on his memory has melted
before the record Of his unselfsh
devotion to popular ideals and Of
his complete mastery of the most com,
pick problems of his time and situation.
AS the guiding spirit Of Washington's
first administration he did more than all
others combined to keep this government
in the pathway of popular ascendancy.
The battle between the individuallst
and the socialist theory of government
must be fought out on this continent.
The prevailing tendency toward concen-
tration and consolidation in pro-
ductive life bespeaks the triumph
Of the socialist theory unless the
American people return to the doc
trines which first found expression in he
work done by Jefferson in the Virginia
assembly when he abolished the con,
nection between church and state and
put an end to the primogeniture laws of
the colony. The adherents of Jefferson
must be depended on to stay the progress
of popular thought toward the political
conceptions which would invest the state
with control over the concerns Of the
individual and make government fet-
ich before which is the assertion of his
rights and immunities the individual man
would be obliged to bow in submission.
The largest measure Of individual ana
collective liberty Is the keystone of the
Jeffersonian philosophy The less of gov
eminent the more Of liberty; the freest
play for individual ability within the
law; the most complete assertion and
conservation Of co-equaI rights for rich
and poor, powerful and weak alike-these
are some of the fundamentals on which
through Jefferson's initiative and con-
tinued insistence government in the
American colonies was founded. It is
still on their assertion that the rich man
as well as the poor, the strong man as
well as the weak, must depend for the
protection of his individual liberty and
right as against the inroads of forces
from whatever quarter which work to-
ward the lessening of individual power
and responsibility.
Jenerson's teachings must never be for
gotten or overlooked if this people are to
remain free. Those whom they may
choose to place above them may prove
as powerful foes to those liberties as out
side forces. The state, the king, the EN-
peror, the car all are the same, when
their rule is not tempered by the most
rigid regard for the rights and immuni
ties Of the unit of society Instead of
the Jefferson anniversary being forgotten
or ignored. it should Ions since have been
made state holiday. Neither the men,
DRY Of Washington nor of Lincoln de-
serves to have that public recognition
acceded to it which is denied to the mem
Ory of Jefferson, In every community
in the land there should exist a popular
society dedicated to the perpetuation of
Jeffersonian philosophy.
It is easy to underestimate Jefferson's
teaching by fippant references to Rous-
seau and the French speculative phlloso-
ply. 1t is cheap means of casting
odium upon the Jeffersonian teaching by
saying it had its inspiration in the doc
trnes Of the red revolutionists of the
Paris boulevards Bat the student of
the revolutionary period in American
history will not find more conservative
leader Of public thought or one who as
an administrative officer showed a higher
regard for the rights of property, as Of