The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-13

ment In purchasing Louisiana ne
had performed an act of the highest
statesmanship. Yet the performance
was as centralixins In its nature and
effects as any of the measures for
which he had SO recently denounced
Hamilton.
But Strong Government Can be In
der Popular Control.
There seems to he no real fouDdia-
ton for JcfisTSon's contention that
"A government to be free and popular
must he a weak and inefficient gov
eminent. Liberty IL indeed great
hlessdng and worth much sacrifice to
procure But II does not follow that
"a little rebellion now and then II a
good thing or that the tree OF lib
erry must be refreshed from time tu
time with the blood OF patriots and
tyrants." on the contrary. there can
be no liberty worthy Of the name
without security Of life and property.
And to safeguard life and property.
~ maintain order, 10 assert justice,
tea protect the weak and defense'ess
against aggression, "A strong govern
inent is absolutely essential
HamiIton's View of Democratic
Government.
The financial policy Of Hamilton.
which Jefferson so bitterly opposed,
had for its supreme object the
strengthening of the Federal govern
ment. That government was very
mitch weaker than Hamilton had de-
sired to see II. In the Constitutional
Convention he had advocated an arts
toCrauc republic modelled on the Eng
fish monarchy under which the pow
ers Of the States should be greatly
curtailed
Jefferson, who afterwards as Pres
ident added Louisiana to the republic,
thought him an enemy OF the consti-
tuition and monarchicai scnemer.
Yet as The Federalist mad already
demonstrated, and as these very fin
aneiai measures were later to prove.
Hamilton was the most efficient friend
the constitution has ever had.
Would jefferson BE Strict Consuruc-
zionist To-Day?
As the constitutional developments
Of Jefferson's day turned on the the
Dry 9f implied powers. SO the consti-
tutional developments of our own
time centre on the Interstate COM
merce clauses OF the constitution. One
wonders whether. If living to-day. JEFF
ferson would be as strict a construc-
ZIONIST as he was hundred years
SeIaration of Legislative and Execu.
tive Departments?
In his own day, however. Jeffer-
son claimed for the states every
power not expressly yielded by the
constitution TO the general govern
ment. And the next item in the JEFF
ferson system in brief" as formu-
lated by Parton. is the demand that
the three great departments OF the
( government, Congress. the executive
and the judiciary. should each KEEP
| TO its sphere, neither of them en-
! croaching upon any OF the others"
| Party Government Onites Legislative
and Executive Departments.
! When Jefferson and his followers
! controlled the executive and legtsla'
tive departments of the government
what harm was there in practical rec,
ognition OF that fact? Why shoult
they attempt to keep separate two de
psrtments whose harmonious actor
was necessary for the best administra
ton of the government ana the bes
interests of the party which occupie'
and controlled them? The shibbolet1
OF the separation Of the executive an
legislative departments, though sol
EMMY proclaimed as q part OF tn
Jerersonian creed was actually ignor
ed in Jeffersons administration. An
thu, was inevitable. A great part
leader. like Jefferson, is followed b
the members of his party, even b
. those who happen to have seats i
Congress~-nay, especially by thos
, who have seats in Congress.
n In no other way is responsible lead
, ership possible. Parties are an es
, sential element of our government.
the chief executive does not lead h
-qrty, then All extra constitution
agency Will be set UP to lead 1t. an
4. this agency will dominate both II
Z executive and legislative department
of the government As this power
an usurpation in its origin, so is
: irresponsible.
I Democracy Unites Legislative and E,
a ecutive Departments.
G The fact is that We have outgrow
= the constitutional separation of Il
= Legislative and executive department
d AS completely as we have outgrow
I the constitutional plan for the Eclectic
d of a president. Both rested on tt
i recognition of separate social class
n ard interests.
q Democracy has see aside the ele,
g toral college. which survives only /
r an empty form, aud made the pres
T deney truly a representative tnstits
ton. Congress represents iocalitie
the president represents ali the pc.
q ! Pile, Before the DEMOCRATIC revolutio
which populariZed the presidency. Coz
. | gress was the more important depar
ment of government. And in Congress
u as Calhoun said the House was
). much more influential body than Il
= Senate"
I Nothing could resist the triumphal
{ march Af Democracy. The trainers
the constitution meant to set up q go'
eminent of the masses by the classe
They assumed that here as In I'm,
4 land, the gentry would control eve
g branch OF the government. The checl
= and balances of the. constitution we
4 restraints upon social, classes. ii
~ trainers OF the constitution were espe
n tally apprehensive that the House
q Representatives should break over Il
;. barriers they set up, That is. why Il
constitution conferred exclusive priv
leges upon the president and the Sci
= ate. And indeed it was the masses
a the people, whose interests the Hou
. was intended especially to safeguar
who reyolutionized the constitution
. making the presidency an elective il
stitution. But since that college to,
place, since the electoral college b
came rubber stamp. since proper
, qualifications for voting were abolish
ed and since In consequence. Hous
Senate, and president alike came
. represent the people either in groups
n In their entirety, without regard
. social classes or interests, the raise
d a. etre for separating the legislative al
. executive departments of governme
l. have entirely disappeared.
Other 1cnets of Jefiersons Systea
The remaining tenets of the "Je
I fersonian system In brief" rs sketc
ed by Parton, may be grouped I
gether. They embrace freedom,
: religion, freedom of the press. fr
N criticism OF government whether i'll