Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-16

diminished business.
Adjournment.
JEFFERSON WAS NOT A POPCL16T.
G'rom the Brooklyn Ia gle, Ind. Dem)
Until the democratic platform adopted
ut Saratoga was read to the convent ion
few of the delegates knew anything about
1t. They knew practically nothing about
ii even when the vote was taken. Most
of them cared less, which is not at all
exceptional-it Is a way conventions have.
This should be taken into account by
those who suppose that the democrats Of
the state in convention assembled have
committed themselves to the national own
ership and operation of the anthracite
mines. They have done nothing of the
kind. They have been committed to the
extent that they were represented and
precisely to the extent that they were
misrepresented they are at liberty TO
Judge for themselves, to choose where
choice will count. The platform says that
whatever differences of opinion may ex-
ist as to other propositions of public own
ershp, the propriety of that policy as APP
piled to anthracite coal mines must he
apparent to everybody. This is sufficient
ly compacent. without q doubt it was
written by David h. Hill, who may pos
sibly have regarded it as quite conclusive.
Possibly not, in spite of his confidence of
tone.
1t is too late to disturb the sleep Of
Thomas Jefferson. so there is no safer oc-
cupation than that of exhuming whateI cr
may be left of his remains. He was sum
rnoned to Chicago and to Kansas City and
he was mustered into Saratoga service.
We are indebted to the world for the re-
hinder that more than IL century ago JEFF
ferson wrote: 1t is singular phe-
| nomenon that while our State govern
ments are the very best in the world our
general government has in the rapid
| course of nine or ten years become more
arbitrary and has swallowed more of tie
| public liberty than even that of England
One good turn deserves another. If the
| world will refer to Jeffersons first in
augural address it will find that he in
| sisted upon a frugal government which
| should restrain men from injuring one
| another but which should leave them
otherwise free to regulate their own pur-
suits of industry. He pleaded for the sup
| port Of the State Cove rnments In all their
| rights as the surcst bulwark against anti
| republican tendencies. He described agri-
| culture manufactures, commerce and
navigation as the pillars Of our prosperity
declaring them to be the most thriving
when left most to individual enterprise,
All things considered, it seems to be a pity
! that his shadow rather than his substance
| was at Saratoga.
The proposition is that the anthracite
| mines shall be seized by the national gov
| crnmCnt. just compensation to be made
| therefor These mines are in PennSAl
vania, which ia one OF the United States
| 1t is one OF the commemorative figuring
| in the articles of confederation, the sec
ond of which articles reads: Each STATE
| retains it's sovereignty, freedom and in
| dependence and every power, jurisdiction
and right which is not by this confedera
ton expressly delegated to the Unite
"a on, q
errs so delegated have been defined Where
they bcin the sovereignty Of the state Of
| PENNSYLVANIA ends. Until they begin, how
ever, that sovereignty is absolute. Unit
they begin, the federal government is in
ertia itself. Momentum. no matter wha
the provocation, means aggression, in
vason. 1t was against this sort of thini
that Jefferson protested 1t was this Sor
! of thing that Jefferson feared when III
said that in the rapid course of eight o
nine years the general government ha'
| become more arbitrary and had Swallowe,
more of public liberty than even that o
| England. And it was because of the ten
! dency of power to concentrate that Ham
lton was voted down when he propose,
that the head of the State should hoi'
office during good behavior. should be sub
ject to removal only through processes o
| Impeachment
Fears that tbs republic would not Ion,
| founders. They We're not unmindful o
| the mutability Of things. They took ever.
precaution that could readily suggest it
| self to the mind of man. The results O
their labors have long been the admira
ton of tho world. The second article o
confederation is to all intents and purpose
the first the one preceding il reading
The stilc of this confederation shall y
the United States of Aemica." Practical
", therefore, the first clause Of the con
tract is that the States shall retain in
violate as much Of their sovereignty a
is not surrendered for the good of al
This was the primary, fundamental vita
arch. Take ii away and the Structur
falls in ruins. Remove it and the maj es
tic curve collapses. 1t sustains the fabric
1t holds everything in place. Concede tina
the federal government has the right t
60 into Pennsylvania with amy such pur
pose in hand and the whole scheme of tn
founders goes by the board What be
romes of the contract? What becomes o
the state rights SO long glorited by tn
orators of the Democratic party? In shOrt
what becomes of the republic II not onl
, may State sovereignty be challenged fror
the national capital, but property conlis
Gated? 1T would now seen To be in OF
Her to suggest that the worshppers at tn
shrine Of jefferson repair to the tomb O
hamilton for inspiration. Somebody ha
stirred up hornets nest.