The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-08-13

twenty years longer; ana coming up
for its third charter during Jacksons
asaiIiiiiiiStti alton, Was vetoed by Gid
Hickory. 1t was Benton VINO at this
time said that Jackson had not
killed the bank tigress; that she was
only wounded, and had retired for a
time into the jungle, but would re-
turn again with her cubs" How ter
ribly has this prediction been fulfilled.
Today financial liberty in the United
States is dead and buried; and over
its tomb is erected not one shaft only,
but about five thousand, and every
one of them is national bank.
Superficial thinkers in Jefferson's
day, as now, inquired how will you
provide paper money without banks Of
issue? Jefferson said treasury notes
bottomed on taxes will make safe
and efficient currency" Experience
has long since demonstrated the wis
dom OF this opinion.
Jefferson, though defeated in his
construction of the constitution, in
Washington's cabinet appealed to the
people, and was triumphantly elected
to the presidency, taking his seat in
1901. He at once changed all the
practices of the government to the
simplest democratic forms. Under the
administrations of Jefferson, Madison
aLd Monroe. covering nearly quar-
ter of century, "a government of the
people, by the people and for the peO-
pie" was maintained as far as could
be done under our lop-sided constitu-
ton, which places nearly all the pow
er in the president and the judiciary.
II fact, substantially a republican
fern of government was maintained
until the civil war, when the southern
democracy made the mistake of seces-
sion, and let the United States govern
rent pass back into the hands Of the
plutocracy, where it has since re-
Eained. We>are compelled t, admit
that the splendid craftsmanship Of JEFF
ferson has been set at naught; and
today the doctrines OF Hamilton are
prevailing in every department of
United States government. Though
the form Of government remains re-
publican, the spirit is largely departed
And when Mckinley died, the London
papers in eulOgizing him as the great
est American president said that the
greatest act of his administration was
that he had changed the government
into an Imperialism. Mr.. Bryan made
two faithful efforts to restore Jeffer-
sonian democracy. and to save the re-
public, but failed. Is there any hope
outside OF radical amendments to the
constitution of the United States?
In conclusion, I must briefly notice
two great works of Jefferson, about
which there is no difference Of 0pin-
An. One was the acquisition OF Louis
lana territory, by which we secured
the navigation Of the Mississippi river
and the final extension of our terri |
tory to the shores of the Pacific. This |
valuable purchase embraced the mouth |
OF the Mississippi river and all of the
territory west of it to the line of Tex
as and up to the Rocky mountains,
embracing, as it now stands, fourteen |
states and three territories. We have |
since acquired California, Arizona, and |
New Mexico by the Mexican war. Ore
gon, including Washington, by a trea-
ty with England, and Alaska by pur-
chase. Thus completing the necessary
area OF territory, with land and naval |
conditions, to become a GREET world
power All of which would have been
impossible but for the wisdom and
foresight Of the Louisiana purchase.
The last of his labors which ! shall |
notice, and which Jefferson regarded |
as one of the great works of his life.
was the founding of Virginia univer-
sity. Jefferson well knew that the
price of liberty is eternal vigilance.
That such vigilance can only be exer-
cised by an intelligent and moral citi-
That such citizenship can
only be secured by correct systems |
OF education. True education devel-
ops man tremendously, in his physi-
cal. mental, social moral and spirit
ual natures. To do this we mist have
teachers; and these we can
only have through the medium of
great universities. Jefferson set an
example in Virginia university which
has been followed by states, churches
and other organizations all over tho
snd. The influence for good OF yir-
yinia university is beyond estimation.
For the higher education. continual
) developing new forms of thought.
md leading to scientific research and