Hattiesburg daily news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1907-1908, 1908-04-14
Observation-Disclosures
Continued from page one.

which they are to be applied under
every varying conditions. The first
requirement for this is clear compre-
hension and firm grasp of these
truths. Otherwise the task is doub-
led-seftling principles as well as
applying them; and the risk of error
is doubled too. So we should often go,
as we do tonight, to- the first great
leader to freshen apd' correct our
ideals and assure our grasp of the
principles Of Democracy.
/ shall speak tonight Of three JET,
fersonian ideas. -
First-The active sovereignty of
the people.
Second-The supreme Importance
of state and local self-government.
Third-Restriction of the functions.
of government.
Hamilton's idea was that the peo-
pie must be governed; Jefferson's
was that they should themselves be
the active force-should in fact as
well as in theory govern themselves.
That they might do this well, JEFF
ferson became one of the first, If not
the first, advocates of education for
all, of press and speech absolutely
free. One Of the three things he
choose for mention in his epitaph was
This service in providing for educa-
ton. And he first organized the
great body of the people as the
controlling force in public affairs.
He knew there is no magic in the
form OF government; that there is
danger of misapprehensieN and mis-.
take under a republic though it is
reduced when the collective judg-
ment of all the people is invoked. Sc
he said:
"The true foundation of Republican
government is the equal right o.
every citizen in his person and prop
erty and in their management.
Reduce your legislature to conven
lent number for full and orderly dis
cussion. Let every snan who fight
or pays exercise his just and equa
right in their, selection. submit
them to appreciation or rejection a
short intervals
In local affairs:
divide the counties into wards @
such size that every citizen can a
tend when called on and act in pei
son."
With these precautions, he belie'
4 ed the people will decide wisely an
we'll.
A cardinal principle. of Jefferso
!, was:
"A wise and frugal governmeI
:. which shall restrain men from i
: jurihg one another, which shall leaN
them otherwise free to regulate the
own pursuits of. industry and II
provement. Economy in the publ
d expense that labor may be light
burdened."
This strikes down at one blow IL
Is multiplying of government function
If and functionaries; the levying
y taxes in any form beyond actu
needs or whose burdens and benefit
direct or indirect, are intended
W reach some and pass others by; az
. the squandering of public money Fl
any purpose or any pretense.
Democracy does not consid'
whether, a man is rich or poor, b
= it does not propose that any OF
shall become either through COVER
/. ment favor or disfavor; and favor
some is necessarily disfayor to Il
others. There is no public peril
d either wealth or poverty in thel
selves. One of the actual rights
man is to get as rich as he choose
Il provided he do It honestly; and Of
of the natural duties Of man is n
tiently to endure honest poverty. B
neither wealth nor poverty can
honest which is due wholly or part
to the interference of the Cover
ment. Nobody would be rich enou
IT. to hurt if the aid of the tax la
were withheld, the use of corpora
riphts raoulated and the laws AGAR