The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-02-01
JE ERSON'S
WORK O
COUNTRY
Interesting Talk by Prof.
Giddings in University
Clubs Course.

Jefferson and the Fight Against
Privilege was the subject of an adj
dress delivered under the auspices of
the University Club last night by
Franklin II. Giddings, professor of
sociology at Columbia University in
Wallace Hall. The lecture was of great
interest. 1t was the second of a series
by Professor Giddings, who is one of
the most prominent men in the country
i'm his particular line of study. As the
series progresses it is anticipated that
the interest of a greater and con-
%tinuously growing number of thinking
people will be attracted.
THE government of this country said
Professor Glddlngs. during the course of
his talk, is not In the hands of the Presi-
dent or of Congress. 1t Is in the hands
of five mild appearing, elderly gentlemen
who constitute the majority of the Supreme
Court Of the United States. In these men
is vested the right to decide whether any
or all the measures of Congress are con-
stitutional. In no other country in the
world is so much power placed in the
hands of so few"
In discussing his subject last night, Pro-
fessor Giddings told how the eolonists came
to America to find economic opportunity,
and that kind OF liberty which entire COM
munit.es or sects may enjoy as groups. il
they escape from external restraint and let
one another alone. They did not create in
dividual liberty for their MEMBERS within
the group.
Neither did the Revolutionary Wal ere
ate 1t, said the professor. That conflict.
which established national Independence.
was III no small degree the outcome of i
| class struggle. in which mn nriSfopratif
element In the American population suf-
fered defeat and Punishment. The nun
bier patriot Wings won a double victory.
They threw off the rule of a distant power
over the State and the rule Of a favored
class within the State.
The moment the war was over. the homo
geneous common people that had Jts
way to victory began to divide into the
strong and successful few who believed In
: privilege and wanted to establish and in
trench 1t, and the commonplace many who
wanted equality of rights.
In large measure the long fight over the
provisions of the new federal constitutions.
which ended in a wretched compromise.
not only on slavery, but on some other i'm
portant things as well, was a class con-
hict, said the speaker, who went on to say
that by the end of Washington's admins
%tration the Federalists and the Republic
cans were sharply arrayed against ench
1890 80 ~ isn't ~ bid oSaAlo PtlNt-
lleges.
Jefferson had been a lifelong champion
of equal rights and no favors. He had
tried to secure the abolition of slavery.
He had secured in his own State. whose
example was elsewhere followed. the aboli-
ton of primogeniture and entail. and he
mad procured the enactment of a law, the
first in any land. creating perfect rel gious
freedom.
These achievements alone, had the.-
been Jefferson's only public services. said
Mr.. Glddings. would have entitled him 10
honorable fame. But it was not merely
these. nor merely these supplemented by
his untiring efforts to persuade the Amer-
lean people to establish public common
schools. that chiefly distinguished Jeffer-
son as one of the greatest f~aShioners OF
democracy.
To Jefferson. said the professor. we owe
the clearest perception and the most exact
expression of the character and limitations
of any rule By and of the people which can
truthfully be called democratic.
Jefferson in his first inaugural address
/ said. All, too will bear in mind this
sacred principle, that though the will OF
= the majority is i'm all cases. to prevail,
that will, to be r~ightful, must be reason
able; that the minority possess their equal
rights, which equal law must protect, and
10 violate would be oppression"
lie said Jefferson was "a member Of Il
favored family. who inherited vast lands
and moneys and who at an early ago mar
ried Il woman Of great wealth. Jefferson
was a member OF the arist0cracy and he
was a Southerner, yet from the outset he
sought the freedom OF The negro. lie was
one of the lenders Of the Revolution aud
) he made the first draft OF the Declaration
I Of independence. Then he went to the
Legislature, and finally became President.
The lecturer traced Jefferson's fight
5 against privilege aud against a restriction
? CT the public press, although the press
+ Y as almost vicious IN its attacks upon him
and upon his administration
I'VE have had some disgraceful examples
OF attack since" the speaker said. but l
l do not think such vituperatiou has been
2 heaped upon any man as was heaped upon
s Jefferson by the newspapers OF his time.
This sacred principle denies that absolu-
: ton of the majority which the teaching
{ OF Rousseau exalted, that despotism OF
the mob which governs by lynch law.
r True democracy. abolishing privilege but
a restraining also its own greed and pas
sicns, is the rule OF the majority which
:. is at once reasonable and just. It can
only exist where and so long as the people