The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-10-25
JEFFERSON-THE GREAT DEMO
GRAFT

principles of democratic government
as formulated by Thomas Jefferson
we cannot do better t1a4 STUDY the
kind of democracy formulated by
him. AS we reaffirm and are devot-
ed to it We ought not - go beyond It..
Jefferson was consistent in his
democracy. He never vent of at a
tangent and did not lose his great
self-poise in chasing after rqiab1ws.
Having been born to great wealth
and at time when aristocracy -four
! ished in this country, it is a matter
! of surprise that he could have been
such an ardent democrat, not only in
his political writings. bu, il lis man
ner of living,
He was a great thinker, a carniver-
Gus reader, and his si9plicl-v and
democratic tendencies was the result
of the boundlessness Of his Enowl-
edge.
Though a large slave-owner. le ear
! ly saw its dangers, and was the first
statesman in America, by statutory
enactment, TO propose the manumis-
| sion of the slave.
Charles Sumner Roscoe Conklng
and a great many otter statesmen
that We might name, only in their
writings possessed democratic ideas.
Personally they were aristocrats, and
had an aversion to coming in contact
with the common people.
Abraham Lincoln had the most
kindly sympathy for the common
people and a boundless confidence in
their ability for self-government, but
he was one of them; he was brought
up in humble surroundings; his edu-
cation was meager, and until exalted
to office he never mingled in social
ed aristocratic circles.
Thomas Jefferson, on the contrary,
passed all his life amidst aristocratic
surroundings; he possessed a finished
education; he was Greek. Latin and
French scholar; he was rich for his
times, yet loved simplicity, had a nat
ural sympathy for the common people
and a supreme confidence in the ab,l-
ity of the masses to govern them
selves in justice, freedom and moder-
alton
No better illustration Of Jefferson's
love for simplicity can be given than
the manner Of his inauguration,
which was so unlike that Of his pre-
decessors.
On the day of his Inauguration, in
stead Of driving TO the capitol in a
coach of six, as had been the prac-
tice, he rode on horseback. He was
without a body guard, not even ser
want accompanied him. He dismount-
ed without assistance, and hitched
his horse to a fence. the same as any
common farmer would have done. He
abolished all titles of honor. His ''ex-
cellency" was offensive to him, and
he said that the president should be
addressed as Mr. President only.
He did not care for rank. Both Of
his administrations were characteriz-
ed by the greatest simplicity AS
president he avoided all pomp and
ceremonies artiicially designed to
distinguish him from the great body
of the people He dressed plainly,
but not slovenly.
Jefferson believed that that nation
is governed best which is governed
least. Persistently and courageously
he fought centralism and federalism.
Between Hamilton and himself there
was an irreconcilable political differ
ence.
Jefferson was for state sovereign
ty. decentralization and local self-gov-
eminent. Hamilton was for a strong
centralized government. and favored
all measures which tended to exalt
and strengthen the government in
harmony with the English monarchy.
His purchase for $15,000,00O of the
territory of Louisiana, which means
a large part of the area of the United
States, was believed by many to have
been the browning act of Jefferson 5
administration. and illustrated his
foresight and wisdom in a remarka-
BILE degree, but his steady and con-
sistent allegiance to the principles of
democracy was his browning feature,
and was the very life-preserver OF
the nation
| Mr. Jefferson wrote the epitaph he
} wanted inscribed on the simple slab
that was to be erected over his re-
mains. 1t was: Author of the de-
claration of independence He aft
erwards added. The statute of Vir-
ginia for religious freedom" and
Founder of the University of Vir-
ginia"