The sun., 1904-12-02
JEYFERsoN AND EERRIss.
Exposition OF Jstfersonian Principles by
an Eminent Populiat.

To THE EpITon OF TIE SUs-Sir: You
and plainly have some misunde derstandlng as
to the doctrine of Thomas Jefferson. Does
II not arise wholly from differences In our
dehnihonsf Some things one may call gov
ernment or governmental the other may not.
We will agree In this. however. that corpora
tlon is In effect an artificial or legal person'
made 90 by law. without Law II may 90 Into
partnership with other New Jersey corpora
tions and become trust Thus by special
enactments, by the consolidation OF capital
and the Organization Of trained men private
corporation may become more powerful than
the government OF county or State. In
truth. IL 10 government, q government
within government. II has the power; II
exercises the funotions It is q government.
You may think differently
Jefferson did not clearly foresee the trust.
merger or system" with relative. constitu-
ent and afiliated systems. and 1t was not his
fault. He knew nothing of continental
steam railways. private cars and rebates.
His experience with the political machine
may have been strenuous. but 1t was not ex-
infant stage. Had Jefferson been another
MethIselah and with US to-day he would
oI H9 sIe reaafd Sf
safesnards The safe builder must be pro-
sressive to keep pace with the burglsr;. -.
to retain the .GQyernmept In the hands OF the
people, He believed In the people. as much
as Hamilton did not believe in them. Thus
advocate the initiative and referendum to
correct latter day, encroachments made BY
surely favor postal savings % Banks, the 'r In
come tax and the addition Of the telephone,
telegraph and parcels post to the United
Jefferson. as understand it. is 10 abolish class ass
o hst e.. u Few we S are r. esPsssd s
mos, fair and largest possible degree the
so o. Sag snoher snd
the common fellow. the plain people. OF all
tyranny, oppression, unjust Taxation and
fo retain their hold upon the government
neSesssry, for: as ! have SID: 4 Hea. trust
the same purpose. fiji the same defnition3
Does 1t not tax the common people and en-
fore. force ts e. mn Just as
a more tyrannlISsl tax or make useful eiti-
DO not think ! am asking these questions
merely desire to get nearer 70 the exact situa-
ton. Other editors; as well as myself, have
pen 0sHd stmpp s ds s Ssd stan sy and
is desirable. II these -Jeifersonian IIie princie
Sac SAGE Of Monteeo so much the better Re
least governed are the best governed Is as
true now as 1t was then.
JOLIET, H.. Nov. 80.
jefferson believed in representative sov-
ernment. The initiative and referendum,
like the proposed election OF United States
Senators by popular vote, is direct popular
government. by enlarged mass meetings.
so to speak. government that throws away
the constitutional system OF checks and
balances. On the other hand. while profess
ing his belief in the least government" theory
Chairman Ferriss wants to increase greatly
the powers and activities OF the Federal Gov
eminent. The -Jefersonian principles OF
1905 seem rather Hamiltonian than Jeffer-
sonian The truth Is that Hamilton has been
winning and Jefferson losing ever since the
Government began business under the Con.
stitution. So far as millions OF "Jenersonian,
that s. Bryan or Watson, Democrats or
Populists are concerned, Jefferson has been
swallowed by his rival.