New-York tribune., 1903-05-01

ing the east side Of the Mississippi in "a n1,s
Of RepresentatiVes after recting their dscouraging
condition and expressing their faith in the govern
closed their memorial with these significant words;
And so far as may dHPead ea an9 on foptnes in
port of such measures Congress may deem neces-
58 to tb ne fhe The settlers In the
states west Of the Aieghany Mountains" also. In
memorial to the government clearly inaicairs tin
that and - tS aR tha pro-
lection and alIegiance are reciProeaL as con-
cluded their statement with these solemn words:
without interfering in the measures that nave
nent OF difference which has grown out Of the the
tb n3ed States 4f maS e2pe
that their condition is critical that the delay OF
and that an imperious necessity may consequently
obge them if they receive no aid. to adopt them, hem
calculated to protect their commerce. even though
those m % S aqony Of thee
These representations emphasized the apprehen-
that the course OF deliberate caution and waiting
which up TO 5hat night rs % be nsucient to meet the
situation, and that whatever the result Inlsht pc,
G5e b enfeTed upon President
to a friend February |, 1903 our circumstances
are so nperious as to admit of no delay as TO our
course and the use of the Mississippi so indspensa
BILE that we canIoi eslsd sin 0 He appointed
an additional envoy to cooperate with our repre-
fpnt To obtain concession that would cure the
difficulty, and in communication TO h ai5es re-
ferring to the excitement caused by the Wltndra"dI
drfion cd ff Which he Believed confronted nation:
ION the event of this mission depends the future
destinies of this republic II we Calioo OS o1rsa
of perpetual peace and friendship with all natons
then as cannot be distant IL removes US I'm,
mediatey to be preparing for that course-thoogh
not Fastening it, -. 49,, -,r,,oss
Of ciafn1fne: that this accelerated speed and ad,
vanced position the part OF our governtneitte h
in has
have thought 1t not amiss however, TO eau az az.
enton to the fact that century ago Ie gdyen Pee1e
mental benefit by Clandestine approach ana cum
ming pretence but apt to plainly present
their wants or grievances. and to openly demand
such consideration and care from the genera gov
eminent was their due under tne na9ddte 9q VI VI
popular rule. and that in making their deinanus
they relied on the mn uta oyerned and those invest
ed authority and invoked the reGlproclty, IN
obedience and support of government there shaii
be given in exchange by the goTGTn@en @ .be 10 sre a
sCrance that in safety and peace they SIdl surrey
@ % Use be Wen to note the efficacy Of the peoples
call upon the government IN those carry GAYS HLG
to temporary gusts of popular whin and caprice.
not by comforting benefits on the few at me eX
pense of the many, but by quick opsI fI M
the fact the withdrawal Of certain rlghfIul
Pad caused them distress and by prompt deter
mination to relieve their distress even II tre uii
welcome visage of war frowned in Opposition.
JEFFERsONs CHANGE OF COURSE
Another incident which it seems to me we may
recall to-day with profit and satisfaction grey out
Of The conduct OF the ad w retrne to
him for ratification and final completion He was:
as is well known originally quite firm in his belief
that the Constitution it stood did not authorize
such extension of our limits by purchase as
treaty for the acquisition OF the LOUISIANA Ter
ritory contemplated Holding this opinion. and nd, at
that the treaty ali its stupendous advantages
could not be allowed 10 fail without positive peril,
Vital object and aspiration, his perplexity was in
creased by the receipt OF authoritative intima-
10 that 6ala in
might open the way TO recession on the part OF
risk the delay Of an amendment to the Constitu-
ton prior to such final action, he proposed recon-
frms.ion Of the treaty by the Senate and
pas5ng ITS aenden Oy
In view Of the conclusive settlement since that
bra9ch 81 OF the government against Mr. Jeersons
original opinion and in favor OF the nations power
of 1908 and considering the fact that have since
ouistion not only Of neghboring territory but Of
distant islands OF the sea separated by thousands
cined to think lightly OF President. Jefferson's
only next adjacent to US but indispensabiy neces-
sary to our peace and DEVELOPMENT +. 900.
who differed with him touching the the natGns power
sions OF the constitution, and these men did not
fail to make known their dissent. Moreover. in
confirmation. there an able discussion of its
eonstitqt4nal validity and ana en- We h Inc Jqag
emphaticaIy declared when out OF thirty-one votes
amendment to the constitution was afterward pre-
sented to Congress. but its first appearance was
its last. 1t does not appear that the President IN
terested himself in its fate. and IL died at the
moment Of its introduction.
While in this day and generation we may wonder
al the doubts which so perplexed Jefferson in 1908
and his estimate of the limitations of funda-
mental law and may he startled when we reflect
that if they had allowed to control his action
we might have lost the greatest national oppor-
tunity which has been presented to people
since the adoption of the constitution. cannot
fail a time to be profoundly grateful
doubts and this estimate those of
a man sincere enough and patriotic enough TO lis
ten to wise and able counsellors and to give his
country the benefit of his admission of the faliibil-
ity OF his judgment.
Thomas Jefferson never furnished better evidence
his greatness than when, just before the subms-
sion OF the treaty the Senate. he wrote a dis
tinguished Senator who differed with him this
question: II confess that / think IL important in
the present case TO set example against broad
construction by appealing for new power to the
people. II. however our friends shall think diff
ferentlv certainly she'll acqufesce with satisfac-
tion-confiding that the good sense of our country
will correc. the evil of construction when 1t shall
produce i'll effects
A recent writer on American diplomacy. who IS
not suspected of partiality for Jenersonian politi
cal doctrine gave in strong and graceful terms
good reason for gratitude to-day. when in re-
ferrinr 10 this subject he wrote: IT was fortunate
for the future America that we had at the head
of AFFAIRS a man of such broad Views OF
country's future A less able President. with the
sfituonaIitv of the measure would have put aside
the opportlinity. jefferson put aside his precon-
raf,ed Views as TO the fundamental law Subordi-
mated them to the will. Of the nation. and well
coined the opportunity to open up the continent to
the expansion OF American democracy and free