The Washington herald., 1908-02-23
Jcffersonian Democracy.

In his introduction TO an essay by Prof
John W. Wayland. OF the University Of
Virginia. summarizing the political opin-
ions Of Thomas jefferson, Prof. Richard
Heath Dabney, Of the same university
has attempted 10 turn the guns Of the
second President against the democratic
tendencies Of the day. Jeffersonian
Democracy. according 10 Prof. Dabney's
Interpretation Of II, Is something very
different from that which goes By that
name in much current political discussion.
The Virginia professor thinks the word
nninimocracy. meaning thereby a political
system in which there was "a minimum
of government and a maximum OF free
dom, would more accurately fit Jefferson
creed than the word democracy" In
other words, although jefferson favored
the rule OF the majority, he would have
the majority rule within narrow con-
stitutional limits. Unlimited Democratic
sway, the domination of the people the
despotism Of the majority. TO use Mr..
Dabney's phrases, were far from the
Jeffersonian ideal of government. .Jeffer
son believed in liberty says Mr.. Dab
ney, regarding government as merely a
disagreeable. though necessary. means
to the great end OF preserving the liberty
Of the weak against the despotism of the
strong. Democracy should be limited in
operation. the domination of numbers
should be restrained. That. however. is
not the Democratic ideal that finds most
acceptance just at present:
To-day different spirit is rife. For millions
think it right to dictate by mere count OF noses
m town. county or State. whether grown men shan
he permitted 70 play whist. drink beer. or smoke
cigarettes Worse STILL they SIT drinking in with
eager ears the perennial maunderinss Of BRYAN. or
gazing raptuTously Roosevelt's massive club and
spectacular teeth. Yet each Of these men p7esribs
The same remedy for aE earthly DISAGREEMENT
more government. and more government still Jef
fGIsOn. on the other hand believed in liberty. more
liberty, and more liberty still
Jefferson was thus. from one point OF
view, an extreme individualist Of that
school which has been so ably upheld by
Herbert Spencer, and. indeed. Prof. Dab
ney does not hesitate to assert that Jef
ferson would probably now agree with
Spencer that while the divine right Of
kings was the great political superstition
Of the past. the great political superstition
OF the present is the divine right OF ma
lorities. Yet there are numerous ex
pressions in Jefferson's letters and state
papers that. interpreted in the modern
spirit. would broaden his individuausm
considerably His first inaugural. for
example. defines as q wise and frugal
government that which shall restrain
men from injuring one another. which
shall leave them otherwise free to resu-
late their own pursuits Of Industry and
Improvement. and shall not take from the
mouth of labor the bread il has earned :,
Who will say that jefferson. holding 10
this conception Of the duties Of wise
government. would not support those ex-
tensions OF governmental authority which
have become necessary. by reason OF the
complexity and interdependence Of modern
life, 10 restrain men from injuring one
;nother. and TO preserve TO industry the
fruit of its labor2
To those who argue otherwise. We tbinl,
1t is sufficient reply to point cut that
jefferson was not welded to an unaIter.
able constitution or immutabIe laws ana
that he believed that governments sbor,d
embody the VIII of the people and execute
H. He regarded not constitutions as too
sacred TO touch, and though mot an ad-
vocate for frequent and untried changes
in laws and constitutions ne knew tha.
laws and institutions must go band
in hand with the progress of the human