Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-04-15

| erty and the pursuit OF happiness.
That to secure these rights govern
ments are instituted among men. de-
irving their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed"
In these few lines are set forth
most important principles of Jeffer-
sons political philosophy. There is.
for example. the idea that human be-
law and enjoy certain equal and in
alienable rights. here also is enunci-
ated the iuea of popr lar Sovereignty
all governments should derive their
powers from the consent of the gov
crned. These great ideals are as true
and sacred today as when they were
set forth by this great apostle of lib
erty and equality.
jefferson was not a constitution wOr-
shipper. He refused to accept the
Federal Constitution at all until the
Bill of Rights was appended in the
form of the first ten amendments. He
was far from regarding the Constitu
ton with blind homage, as the Holy
of HOLES. the very Ark of the Cow
enant He had little more respect
for it than for an average statute
but he believed the Constitution
would have to be changed now aid
then if it were to measure to tie eX-
panding needs of our national life.
Likewise toward the Supreme Count
he held a decided reserve. With him
the will of the people should be SUI
preme and not subject to abrOgatiOn
nor to thwarting by any judge or
SrOup of judges. He feared that the
Supreme Court might become the tool
of too powerful Federfl Government
and thus would be nullified our whole
system of checks and balances.
jefferson did not read the excuses
Of the French Revolution as warnings
against democracy but as warnings
against monarchy. He believed that
one generation cannot and should not
bind another by paper documents and
public debts. The rights of govern
ment reside in the will of the people
and this changes from time to time.
The Sage of Monticello was a mas
far-seeing. His methods were open to
public scrutiny. He abhorred and re-
volted against anything which smaclle d
of bureaucratic coercion of the many
by the few. He was for lifting the
masses step by step through indi-
vidual participation in government
a true democracy-and not for eXpedi-
cncy through political chicanery.
jefferson believed in the honesty
of the people. He had large faith
liz their common sense. He believed
that all is to be won by appealing to
the reason of voters; that by educa-
ton their ignorance can be eliminated.
He thought that human nature is in
definitely perfectible and that ma
jorities rule not by force but by right
Jefferson's Importance as maker
of modern America can hardly be
Over-eStimated, for the ideas he ad-
vocated have become the foundation
of Ameril an democ atic-rerutlican-
ism. No other mans ideas have had
anything like the shaping influence
upon our institutions. By his own
character and labors he vindici ted
his faith in the experiment of self
government.
After all is said. one cannot ap-
proach a man like Thomas jefferson
with narrow literal mind. His bril-
liant scintillating intellect ranged
nearly all realms and held attitudes
upon many subjects. Like all NOR
tails, Jefferson was q child of his own
age and shared many of it's ideas, al
though upon most points he was far
more looking.
1t is forever true as Woodrow Will
son said of him: 1.-The Immortality of
Thomas Jefferson does not lie in any
one of his achievements, but in his
attitude toward mankind" One may
add that the Immortality of jefferson
does not lie in any one or two of his
opinions but in the slant of his spirit
Our nations history is sometimes
charged with lack of picturesqueness
because it does not deal with knights,