The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-09-21

as always, upon the teachings Of its
great founder. It was a cardinal prin-
ciple Of Jefferson to preserve the lar
gest possible liberty to the individual,
and for that purpose to eircumscFibe
within the narrowest necessary limits
the operations of Government. But the
teachings of jefferson must be in
terpreted so as to advance. and not de-
feat, the object he had in view. They
must be interpreted in the broadness
of the spirit rather than he narrow
ness of the letter. "The letter killeth,
but the spirit giveth life. Today the
great menace to indiyidualism is in
the extension of the Individual by the
great trusts and monopolies of the
country. To paraphrase the language
of the poet. The individual withers,
but the trust is more and more
eve must apply the teachings OF
jefferson to the conditions today. not
to conditions that existed one hundred
years ago. Especially must we not so
interpret them as to strengthen the
power which is steadily destroying the
dignity of pain, unchartered, unincor-
porated Man.
"Such is the spirit with which the
Democratic party must prepare itself
. for all its future conflicts If 1t would
remain the party of Thomas Jefferson
!. and the party of popular rights. We
!. lare approaching a crisis in our politl-
! cal affairs, and no party is prepared
n intelligently to deal with it which does
= not take note of the wide discomfort
9 with existing conditions, discomfort
!. which is not the frenzy of misery and
4 despair, but which manifests itself IN
time of great and general prosperi
' lty: whose cravings are not satisfied
l. with a full dinner pail which does
r not respond to the appeal to let wei
II enough alone" At no time was the
At country in greater need of the brave
n. heart and the steady hand to guide
9 the ship of State between the whirl
!. nool and the rock into the broad ant
w. neaceful waters of the open sea
o. There are visible signs of an approach
r. ing titanic struggle. Upon the on
Ia hand are the forces Of greed an
avariee. blown with pride and insolen
~ with power; on the other, the spiri
- of a vague but a vast unrest, splrl
- of revolution, striking with blind fur
I, At existing conditions, a spirit tina
IN would substitute anarchy for tyrann,
81 AMI chaos for corruption. Woe be
,s him who can see no peril N Tn
~ ominous activity of the forces OF u
~ rest: woe be to him who mocks at q
!. Hind Samson. when he strains at Il
,os pillars of the temple. There must
~ in this country saving spirit OF co
.,n seryatism. which can rescue this Go
=, ernment alike from chaos and CORFU
IA. ton, and lead it along safe paths TO
NJ happy issue GUS of all
/ perils. That spirit Is to
II
A. found, not in the vain drea
M Of the Socialist, but in the applicant
Tho to existing conditions Of those gre
i faiths and principles which inspir
~ the founders of our Government
div living and enduring principles OF
ors Democratic party. If we would ?
- o4,,a+a {hie Renublic we must perr
not uate those high purposes that gave
n a life and are the very breath OF
Dad nostrils. If we would resist the Tor
the Of disorder, we must preserve INT
J, is and unbroken, the walls which
.ust. fathers reared, and stand fast by
Their citadel of the Constitution as py
can Ark of the Covenant of the LILY
ubli- EGod."