Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1933-08-24
GETTING DOWN TO
BRASS
If JEFFERSON CAME BACK

A friend writes TO ask what woul6
happen if Thomas Jefferson. ths
great leader of colonial Democracy
came back. His idea is that the
sage of Monticello would be shock.
ed. We cannot agrae- with him
Thomas Jefferson at his maturity
came upon a national scene not
greatly different from that which
exists today. Agriculture was pros
trate. the country banking system
was in a somewhat chaotic condi-
ton. Unrest filled the land JEFF
ferson was a friend Of. the under
dog and a firm and resourceful ex-
ponent of the doctrine of social
justice in every field Of human ar
fairs. So. il he came back to the
world today, he could probably
count a good deal of progress in
democracy as ii is demonstrated
over that of his day.
When Jefferson was a mature
man the lot OF the average mar was
still most uninvifing. Labor worked
long hours for small wages. In the
army they flogged soldiers for quite
trivial offenses. The system Of in
dentured servants still existed.
There was slavery. Apprentices to
the crafts had few rights. A job
was a job. Opportunities for employ
ment were limited. Newspapers
were feeble efforts as compared
with newspapers today, but their
educational influence was much
more appreciated The editors OF
Jefferson's time was bound by no
diplomatic concessions to the COM
me~rcialism that is seriously affect
ing the newspapers of today. The
public prints were a great influ-
enee in the new nation. So much
so that indirect subsidies were CIV
en- them. some of which endure to
this day. Jefferson had vision. He
was the first man TO think of the
Upper Missouri country. 1t was un-
der his rule that the Lewis and
Clark expedition was sent to this
section. He was president on the
day they passed the present site OF
the city of Williston 129 years ago.
And there were ~Tacketeers In
Jefferson's day. The nations ship
ping paid tribute to the pirates Of
Barbary, just as many businesses
today pay tribute 60 various rack
cts. Jefferson gave the pirates of
Barbary some attention. He caught
a lot Of them and had them hung
from the yard arms or their own
ships. Piracy became unpopular.
The Jefferson policy took the pro-
fits out of the piracy racket for it
was just a racket despite all the
glamour that has been written
around It. Here are some OF the
things Jefferson advocated in his
first inaugural address, delivered
perhaps at the supreme moment or
his life. They will bear remember
ing today:
Equal and exact justice to all
of whatever state or persua-
sion, religious or political
Peace, commerce and honest friend
ship with all nations, entangling al
l.ances with n A jealous
care OF the rights OF election by the
people The supremacy of the
civil over the military authority
Economy In the public expense !
that labor may be lightly burdened
the honest payment OF u
debts and sacred preservation of
of the public faith Encourage
ment Of agriculture and commerce
its handmade The diffusion
Of information and the arraignment
of all abuses at the bar of public
reason
Commenting upon these princi-
Piles he said. "These principles form
the bright constellation which has
gone before us, and guided our
steps through an age of revolution
and reformation. The wisdom of our
and the blood of our heroes
have been devoted TO the attain
ment. They should be the creed Of
Durhpolitical faith-the text of civil
instruction - the tombstone by
Whlcn to try the services OF lhose
we trust. and should we wander
from them In moments of error OF
let us hasten to retrace our
steps and regain the load which
leads alone to peace, liberty and
To many OF this day all this may
sound quaint. And by many OF the
concepts and ideals of this day 1t
S quaint. But the principles Jeffer-
son voiced are eternal In their fun
iamentaI truth and soundness. And
L Thomas Jefferson came back TO
today, 1t is reasonable to be-
ieve that he would take up where
left off and find plenty Of CON