The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-21
The Work of the Fathers.

Anyone who has studied the speeches
and letters of the men who framed the
Constitution, constructed the Declaration
Of Independence, and started the infant
Republic of America on its career cannot
have failed TO remark the very decided
difference between their sentiments and
expressions and those now heard in Con-
gress and read in newspaper interviews.
Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton. Paine,
Franklin, and their associates fully real
lied the Importance of their tasks, and,
especially in the writings OF Jefferson, one
finds expressions indicating a grave sense
OF responsibility TO posterity. For exam
pie, in discussing the Louisiana Purchase.
a transaction which was bitterly opposed
in the time of it. Jefferson says that he
is acting as a guardian might act in pur-
chasing a piece of land with the money of
his ward, hoping that, when the youth
came of age. he would see the wisdom of
the act and exonerate his agent. In short,
the men of 1875 were legislating not only
Tor themselves and their contemporaries,
but for their great-great- grandchildren,
and they fully realized the fact; but this
grandfatherly interest in future genera
lions seems to have vanished from the
earth.
1t may be argued that conditions have
changed, and that the Inauguration OF an
experiment in government must of neces-
sity be a graver task than carrying it on
after a beginning has been made. This is
in measure true. The time of our Rev
olution was one in which the foundations
of the earth seemed TO be giving way, and
many doctrines and traditions till then
considered sacred were being attacked, if
not demolished. Paine's writings on po-
litical economy were followed By his Age
Of Reason" Franklin was an agnostic
albeit a cautious and shrewd one; Jeffer-
son was no churchman: some Of the lead
ers of the Revolution were men of little
education and culture. 1t was a question
in the minds of the conservative. whether
republican government was possible, and,
IL possible would escape the dangers of
anarchy in religion and society The whole
thing was an experiment and il depended
upon the wisdom of the founders OF tie
Republic whether the experiment was 10
be a success or a gigantic, demOralizing
and tragic failure, wrecking not only the
future Of the thirteen States. but the
hopes of advanced thinkers that demo
cratic government could be as successful
as despotism. These things. unquestion-
ably, caused Washington and his col
leagues to appreciate the gravity Of their
task.
But it should be remembered that the
work is not all done yet. country a
hundred and twenty five years old is not
finished: in fact. its civilization is scarce
~ begun. Our foundations are not so Sc
cure that we can afford to tamper with
them. The problems which confront the
lawmakers of today are in their way as
important as those which confronted our
ancestors; and their decision will affect
for good or evil. countless generations
which come after us. The day of inven-
tive genius, OF material prosperity. of COM
mercial combination. has but Just dawned.
The combination OF different elements in
o people. under one form OF government.
In such a way that each shall have his
rights. is task which did not occur to
Washington and Jefferson as imperative.
but 1t is imperative now. We hase become