The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1905-03-31
DEMOCRATIC POLICIES.

1t is doubtful if this republic,
after the passage Of a fateful
century, has produced any two
public men TO equal in brains and
constructive 5 "a e m ms h Up
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander
Hamilton.
The opposing theories enyolved
from their brains and research
are to-day in their varying forms
the working theories of our gov
ernment, and over the conflicting
views of these earlier statesmen
parties and factions still grappleI
at each others throats in every
national campaign.
). Conditions and circumstances
will change and modify at times
the application of certain ideas to
legislation, but it may be set down
as an established fact that gene
raj principles which have survived
so long and enlisted so much OF
loyalty and so much Of continued
advocacy among great men and
great parties must contain the
elemental and balanced theories
which are best worthy of expert
ment and trial in a government
j like ours. The principle of the
survival of the fittest would seem
to stamp the Jeffersonian and the
, Hamiltonion views as the two
1 theories upon which me must
continue to fight out our varying
Z views of representative govern
Z ment in this country.
t Under these circumstances,
e while we readily recognize that
, neither men nor parties can be
: tied down slavishly to traditions
y or precedents, it is in the main a
Z safe plan to adhere as closely as
:. possible TO the Fundamental
: creeds and principles of the found
ers of the great party to whlcf
y we belong.
o While we would not bind our
selves. to a right and slavish ad
herence to everything that Jeffer
a son wrote or spoke, it woulC
e seem to be solid ground on which
f Democrats should stand tina
;. there ought to be a good, Soun'
reason in government and IN pub
l lie policy for a departue from tn
principles and. creeds of tha
great, constructive intelllgenc
from which our Democratic viev
comes down to us from tn
founder, and to the great an,
catholic love of country in whlcI
no statesman of this or any othe
land ever surpassed Thomas JET
I ferson.
Upon this foundation the Demo
cratic party ought jealor s'y t
watch those things in legislatlo
which mark departure from tn
Jeffersonian idea of government
and it ought, without some goo
and compelling reason to the cor
trary. to seek diligently and t
walk steadfastely in those way
l which the father of Democrac
has laid down for the guidanc
I and prosperity of the great polltI
cal faith and order to which W
\ belong.
l Along this line it is a matter 9
congratulation that the attltud
of the Democratic minority In tn
Senate during the past week hs
registered a very definite loyalt
to those earlier creeds of th
Democratic fathers in its posltlo
of hostility toward the Domln
can treaty. The Democrat
Senators have planted opposltlo
upon the principle of "entanghn
alliances with no country an
the vitality with which this prll
ciple has been voted by the Den
ocratic Senators has not only bee
yindicated by the practical defe;
Of the treaty, but in the ton
administered to the country
the triumph of Democratic doc
rine.
With the probable speedy a
iournment of the Senate, al
legislation for a time being stol
BED. the attention to WashingtC
lffairs for the next two montl
will largely be confined to an Q
servation of the Presidents pole
and to his strenuous interest
the questions which come und
the scope and power of the e
ecutive.
Meanwhile the appeal shou
once more be made to the Den
cratic masses omake this natior
interregnum the period of stud
agitation and crystallizatlc
Study. discussion and resolutl
are the three prime duties of t
Democratic voter for the nc