Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-06-25
Jefferson and
Times Change

Thomas Jefferson was distinguished
among his contemporaries for an tiii-
canny capacity TO plumb tile future.
Times without number the foresight of
jefferson enabled him to predict the
course Of history. And yet, 1t l. doubt
full If even his prophetic vision could
have enabled him to imagine the pres
pnt-day offspring Of the natianal gov
ernment in the creation Of which he
played so large part.
A sturdy individuaism WIS the idell
of Jefferson. His beliefs and those OF
his party were the doctrines OF aarl-
ettlturists, and particunrists. devoted
10 their own localities, their own
states and their individual rights and
! liberties. The power Of the state IN
| any form was il thing Of evil and 70 be
| resisted. THAT country il governed
best which Is governed least aptly
summarized their code out OF such
sentiments there emerged the founda-
lions Of the national character. Men
| felt TINT the Inv swept around each
citizen wide circle OF individual
rights INFO which no government, state
or federal, could intrnde except at It's
peril
Feared Capitalization.
Such was tile political faith or
country rural in IFS habits anu
thought. jefferson mistrusted large
centers of population and esteemed
society Composed Of planters, farmers
aud small @fraders. as tile bulwark Of
republican government.
Jefferson may have fore~een that
the Colonies could moi forever roman
essentially agricultural IN Industry o.
society. But ii Is doubtful II he or
The others who lahored with him i'm
aeined that industry would ever 50
largely predominant the interests OF
the United States.
10 cope with this condition the tune
tions Of tile state have been multiplied
and rights and liberties Of the indi-
yidual citizen have been successlVeiy
narrowed to conform to new condl-
ton Of society. These changes, the IN
cidpnce OF which has been confined
largely to the years AFTER the tisii
var hive SO altered American govern
ment as TO make 1t hardly recosniz
able rs the same fabric that was once
"a frequently and plainly marked bA
Iaffersonian indiyiduaism and Oppose
lion 10 centralized authority.
The difficulties OF unemployment AM
J depression, multiplied in our large cen
ters OF population and peculiar 70 al
indnstrialized community, confirm del
ferson's apprehensions as to the evil
Of urban society. But, however IN
transformation from a rural 70 an III
, dustril state may be deplored, II
! problems are not to be solved by ~
= rretting their existence. The chang
!. has heen inevitable and the colonie
Q ~ Tho Atlantic coast with their thrice
J million people could not have been e.
handed into a nation stretching acros
the continent and populated by OF
: hundred and twenty millions withol
abandoning the social structure OF
: agricultural community.
!, Philosophy Justified.
And tremendous as the revolutit
# has been 1t by no means has outlaw'
n the political philosophy OF the Sage
Monticello. There Is need today
there WAS In 1776 for men who estee
n the sovereignty OF the people; freedo
re OF thought and speech; local self rul
al and economy In government. And
time has altered the social structn
no he believed In, II has confirmed
q. passion for human liberty, his faith
Il democratic principles. his program
national expansion and has proved n
not ouiy one Of the worlds create