The Irish standard., 1902-04-19

SON oAC 1lOI DuIL VI
the discussion here tonight. We stand
upon a platform that there is no essen
tial difference in the government of the
| country, state or municipality; that all
goes back to the fountain source-the
common people-in which Jefferson
and all who followed him believed to
be the true foundation of government" !"
Senator P. Fitzpatrick, of Winona,
was the next speaker. He discussed
Jefferson as Democrat" in eloquent
style, saying in full:
Wherever organized society exists
two opposing principles of government
contend for supremacy-one, represent
ing all Of the people interested, bearing
from them and for them, in trust, such
limited, delegated powers as are neces-
sary for the public welfare and protec-
ton; the other, representing the power
full and prosperous few, bearing their
tribute, in consideration of special
privileges, Of unlimited powers and the
enforced homage of the masses to the
gaudy paraphernalia of mere govern
mental machinery and instrumental
ties.
This struggle, for over century, has
been more intense and interesting, and
the honors have been more nearly
equal in our own country than else
where; because, here the campaign
was organized and the first great bat
ties were fought under the directing
genius and wisdom of Jefferson, on the
one side, against the daring strategy
and great skill of Hamilton on the
other.
In the stress and heat of actual war;
fare, when the heavy yoke of govern
ment was calling their own necks,
when they were more Immediately con-
cerned in tearing down than in build
ing up, Jefferson, ever solictoms for the
rights Of man, with great foresight, Sc
cured from his future political enemies,
as we'll as friends, in the adoption of
the Declaration of Independence, an
express acknowledgment that call
men are created with an equal, in
alienable right to life, liberty. and the
pursuit Of happiness" and that "gov-
ernments derive their just powers from
the consent of the governed"
Right here we can distinguish be-
tween true craftsmanship, upon the one
hand, and false politics, false pre-
lenses, on the other. Jefferson believed
in and taught these principles as ever
lasting md universal truths, as rule
Of faith, to guide the new republic to
its highest destiny. His opponents used
them, in an emergency, as signal Of
distress, as false lights, mere sophisms,
to help them out Of n predicament and
to be repudiated and discarded by
them whenever it should become de-
sirable and convenient to do so. But
the 'mOnocrats,' as Jefferson called
them, reckoned without their host. He
held them in measure, at least, to
their word and to the letter of the
compact. BY the aid of the people, by
his Interpretation and administration
of the government, these principles
were given more practical applica-
tion. AS 4 result, that "mass of gilt
terng generalities" and "consecrated
fallacies." as the Declaration Of Inde-
pendence has been sneeringly termed,
still receives official recognition and
acknowledgment in the United States
erlldgingly perhaps, from those who
trample upon it with impunity in the
West Indies and the Philippines and
who applaud every disaster to and be-
wall every success Of similar principles
elsewhere.
Thomas Jefferson was the ideal
Democrat. He was the founder Of
American Democracy-thc undisputed
authority on and interpreter of it's doc
trine. What we call "Jeffersonian
Democracy" the Federalists designat-
ed as "Jeffersonan anarchy" One of
his biographers, evidently not Demo-
crat. informs lis that: "Jefferson's
faith in the laxcst form of democracy,
scarcely removed from anarchy, stood
to him In the place of q religion" Yet
he never took the trouble to refute i'm
putations of that character. Now, how
ever, we are told by the men who are
engaged in the business of making
world powers" by the easy process Of
giving new names to old crimes. that
Jefferson is their guide and philos-
opher, that lhe was an eNpansionist and
was all right" Perhaps he was. You
remember he purchased from the un-
disputed owner, at very reasonable
price, vast area Of desirable, unoc-
cupied, adjacent American territory,
and planted it broadcast with the seeds
Of the Declaration Of Independence.
I1e caused the smallest possible uuan-
tity of government to expand over the
largest possible extent of this conti-
nent, without force, without oppression
or injustice to a single human being,
and without apologizing for or dim
ming single one Of the glittering
truths which he had written.
If extending the liberties of the in.
dividual. and giving thanks for his
country being separated by n wide
ocean from the DISCRIMINATING havoc