Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-04-25
JEFFERSON IDEAS
AS STATED By CONGRESSMAN
JOHN SHARP WILLIAMS.
A National Debt Not a National Blessing
Jefferson Negotiated the First Reciprocity
Treaty,-Thomas Jefferson. the Statesman
and Father OF Democracy.

At the recent Jeffersonian banquet OF
the Iroquois Club. Chicago. the follow
ing letter was read from John S. Will
liams, OF Mississippi, democratic leader
in congress:
The Iroquois Club, Chicago: Are tie
democrats Observation-Disclosures? Mr..
Jefferson taught them the doctrine. Do
the democrats believe that a national
debt is not national blessing, but ma
tional curse? Mr.. Jefferson taught them
that. Do the democrats believe that
there should be left to the individual
every liberty possible consistent with
the welfare OF other individuals; that
there should be left to the town or the
county the largest possible measure Of
home rule; that there should be lodged
in the state every judicial and legislative
power that is not strictly national and
necessary to the public defense and to
national independence? They got that
lesson from Mr.. Jefferson. Mr.. jefferson
taught, and taught wisely that,as a rule,
"the people least governed are the be t
governed" and that the less federal in
reference with local self.government In
the family, in the town, in the county,
and in the state, the better for all con-
cerned. Do democrats believe that
within the scope of the exercise Of fed
eral power, there should be as nearly as
possible equal opportunities and equal
burdens? Mr.. Jefferson taught them
that. Do democrats believe that
the taxing power ought to be used for
the purpose OF raising revenue to carry
on government constitut'onally. eco.
nomically and effectively administered
That was one Of Mr.. Jefferson's lessons,
|too.
Are the democrats anti.colonialists.
Stronger denunciations of colonia!ism
and Of the arbitrary, unlimited govern.
ipent lodged within the discretion Of the
governors, that necessarily goes with it,
were never penned than the utter
ances of Mr.. Jefferson upon the subject.
Do democrats believe that no community
has the right to govern another COM
munity across the seas in accordance
with the uninformed dictates Of its own
sweet will? Mr.. Jefferson was the pen
OF the revolution who wrote that doc
trine large.
Do democrats believe in amicable and
reciprocal trade relations with the other
nations of the world? Mr.. Jefferson ne
gotiated the first reciprocity treaties. Do
democrats believe in the Monroe doctrine,
its proper assertion and it's proper limi
tations? Mr.. Jefferson expressed the
idea before Monroe, after consultation
with him, had included it in state
paper. Do democrats believe militarism
to be curse, and that the farmer or
mechanic ought not to be compelled to
bear upon his stopped shoulders he'll
melted soldiery; that the military power
ought always to be subordinate. not in
words nor law alone, but in spirit as
we'll, to the civil authority? Mr.. Jeffer.
son was forerunner there, too.
O There were no trusts in Mr.. Jefferson e
day, but we may we'll understand what
his doctrine would have been concerning
them if we will but re.read what he
said about the menace to the peoples
liberties and happiness which the undue
amusement of great wealth in the hands
Of a few people would occasion. He not
only foresaw it, but did what he could
to prevent it.
Intelligence subtle and far-seeing,
Enthusiastically broad and all-loving
a moral courage superb, exquisite courte-
sy. Indifference to personal enrichment,
all these marked him gentleman, and
as such, an embodiment of the highest
ideals Of the English speaking race.
am. with every expression Of regret
very truly yours,
JOHN SHARP WILLIAMS.