Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-04-15


~ NJ Garrison, secretary of war.
delivered an address on Democracy
at the jefferson day dinner of the
National Democratic club at the
Hotel Savoy in this city tonight
Mr. Garrison said:
"One hundred and seventv-two
years ago jefferson was born; 50
years ago he died. Between those
dates a nation was born. passed sue
cessfully through its early perils. and
had grown msty and strong. He
took part in all that went on and had
much to do with the way it went
lie was very quick to observe the
manifestations of the new born spirit
of mankind, to realize the immense
! importance of its awakening and to
endeavor to give it proper form and
substance.
From these sources and by these
causes Jefferson's own conceptions
were formed, his political philosophy
was formulated, and he became the
FOUNDER of great party which has
survived every sort of political vicis-
situde and is today strong virile and
militant.
This, of course, could not be if
nourishing in its principles-some-
thing that got into the blood and
minds of men and made them cling
to 1t and cherish it through the .days
of discouragement and defeat From
these depths it never would have
arisen had it not been for the great
principles which had given it birth;
principles towards which mankind
had been tending for long ages
Loo g,f ttrtsa nv, cgg... 4.
and tears; principles born of mans
conscience and his manhood, evolved
IN his agony and defended with his
life; principles which spell liberty
and opportunity and hope to all who
embrace them and can enforce them.
The Masses Were Inert.
Let us go back and dwell in the
atmosphere of those early days. We
will no doubt be astonished to recol-
| lect that what has become customary
and apparently self-evident to us
was novel, extraordinary and entirely
revolutionary then. Then practically
all the nations of the earth were gov
erned by self-imposed rulers Knowl-
edge then, as now, was power-but
only the powerful had knowledge.
The great mass of mankind was inert
The burdens of the world were borne
by it-but as to the direction in
which they should be borne, the mass
of mankind had nothing to say
"Slight revolts on too narrow foun-
dations had taken place, but nothing
of Importance had been achieved.
But the seed of change had been
sown and from this seed was born
| the idea of Democracy-th life and
! opportunity and hope were the herit-
age of each and all equally that
when men gathered in human socie-
ties and formed governments, justice
must be the foundation and the cor
nerstone and the pillars and the roof
Justice-which means liberty to each
| equally; which means no preference
or favor for any; nothing given to
one and withheld from the other;
equality of voice i'm the making of
the laws and in their enforcement; /;
equality of voice in the naming Of
those to administer the laws; and an
equal opportunity unhampered by
unjust laws, to expand and develop
and obtain just returns for what tai
ents, strength and skill each pos
sessed.
This is what Democracy with a
II little ID means, and what Democracy
with capital ID stands. for.
Rests with Citizens.
THE essential foundation of such
a philosophy is sturdy citizenship;
a citizenship which believes that the
citizen should support his self-created
government, and not permit the gov
ernment created by all the people.
to be subverted to the personal profit
or benefit of some Of the people. It's
l two efficient agents are representa-
tive government and home rule.
THE least government that Is con-
sstent with the proper doing Of
those things which must be done col
lectively, the better; the more the
individual citizen is permitted to ex-
pand, develop his character and his
energy and his talent without ham
pering restrictions, the better. Under
such a system the local affairs should
be left absolutely to local govern
ment: those which have been con-
fded to the state governments should
be left there. and those which were
lodged in the federal government
should be fully exercised by 1t. Each
in its sphere should he strong, self
sufficient and proud and able to
bear its own burdens and solve its
own problems. II one of such en-
titles is permitted TO intrude upon
the sphere of another, it saps the
strength of the latter produces con-
fusion, and tends TO weaken the
'whole structure.
What VIII BE the Verdict?
II often wonder whether we suffi-
ciently realize the tremendous i'm
portance Of this great experiment
now being tried upon this continent:
one that has greater potentiality for
the happiness and welfare of man
kind than any other known to his
tory. We are in very truth trustees
for the whole human family. in a
very peculiar and full sense Of that
word II. by greed. neglect, or per
verseness we permit this great expert
ment to fail, it will be many long
ages before those who come after us
will be able to embody a like spirit
in any form giving hope of success.
Filled with the sense OF our respon-
sibility. proud of the opportunity to
contribute our part. conscious that
only by eternal vigilance can we pre-
serve our precious heritage and hand