The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1901-02-16
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Nasterly Tribute Paid tU the Great
est DemOcrat-and His Principles
bv W, j. Bryan.

The ninety-second anniversary of
the birth Of Abraham Lincoln was
celebrated by the Jefferson, Jackson
and Lincoln League. Mr.. Bryan
was the principal speaker Follow
ing is an abstract of his speech:
'sNever was this nation more in
need than it is to-day of an earnest
and thorough revival Of Jeffersonlan
principles. While other statesmen,
appearing at different crises AMI
meeting the responsibilities Of their
resPectives times, have made par
tial application of Democratic prin
ciples, Jefferson is the only one who
formulated Democratic code APP
and all people.
"Though the champion of the
common people. he was born among
the aristocrats, and was as intimate
ly acquainted with the members of
the houses of those who had plenty
as with those who struggled to meet
bv daily work their daily wants.
s.He was called demagogue by
his enemies, and yet he exhibited
moral courage which none of his
detractors have ever possessed, and
in behalf of righteous principle he
would oppose the world Two
years before he wrote the Declare
ton of Independence he prepared
q summary review of the rights of
British which was a bold
reputation of the authority which
England claimed--that was not the
work of demagogue. He attacked
the laws of primogeniture and en-
tail, and saved America from a
landed aristocracy-- that was not
the work of a demagogue.
"He condemned slavery when
the system was popular in his State
and in the nation, and he did 1t
:hree-qnarters of a century before
| emancipation crowned Lincoln with
| martyrdom and Immortality that
was not the work of demagogue
"He organized the Democratic
party, and by the strength of his
leadership overthrow an opposition
entrenched in power and buls arked
by the business and social forces.
$50 successful was his admins
tration that his reelection was prac-
tically unanimous, and for years the
Executive chair was filled by men
unto whom he had been a Gamaliel.
''At this time, when the money
changers are in absolute control of
the government and are shaping the
nations financial policy in their
own interests without regard for the
welfare of the people at large. we
need to recall Jefferson's scathine
arraignment of those who demand
the surrender into their hands OF
the sovereign functions Of govern
ment.
"He pointed out that the safety
of the people lay in policy tn at
would drive the banks out Of the
government business
| 'sAt this time, when corporate
monopoly is fast extinguishing in
dustrial importance. we need a re-
vIvaf of the Jeffersonian spirit,
which demands government ad-
ministered according to the doctrine
of equal rights to all and special pri-
vileges to none.
s'At this time when commercial
ism is soaring the conscience Of the
nation; when the worship of nam
mon is leading the people to ignore
1nalienable rights; when the ideals
bought with blood and sacrifice are
about to be battered away for the
specious and delusive promises of
empire-at this time, I rePsat, we
need have our faith in man as man
and our love for man as brother re
kindled by the memory Of this
mighty patriot, philosopher and
Democrat, whose brain compre-
hended the height and depth and
breadth of government and whose
heart embraced the h uman race"
Porto Ricans evidently feel that