Askov American., 1941-01-23

vice against a third term was better
than the constitution.
We have been delighted to see so
many Democrats support us in the
past. We hope more of you support us
in the future. United we have at times
demonstrated what can be done. In
the last campaign we carried Min
nesota for Roosevelt and Wallace in
spite of Minnesota's keynoter and the
big business crusade.
We invite you Democrats to CO.
operate with us Farmer-Laborites in
restoring Minnesota to the ranks of
progressive states.
How complete unity can be ac-
complished requires careful thought
and study. The subject should be
thoroughly discussed by the rank and
file. But on one thing we Farmer
Laborites will never compromise. The
principles of that great liberal JEFF
ferson must dominate the united lib
eral forces in Minnesota. The prin-
ciples of Jefferson must not be empty
phrases as are Lincoln's principles
with so many Republicans. The fun
damental and everlasting principles
of real liberalism must be preserved.
Those principles we Farmer-Labor-
ties will never desert.
In his introduction to the book, "The
Living jefferson, the author James
Truslow Adams, gives an excellent
description of the word, liberalism" T,
in the following words:
Liberalism is rather an attitude
than a program. 1t is less solution
of governmental problems than it is
a way of looking at them. 1t is
based on the doctrine of live and let
live A liberal is bound to insist
upon freedom-freedom as far as
possible for the individual to manage
his own affairs, freedom of thought,
speech, and of the press, liberation
of both the possession and expression
of other points of view in religion,
politics and modes of life. These the
Liberal considers to be values without
which full and humane life can
not be achieved. All freedom in
wolves responsibility, and response
bility involves risks. For the sake
of enjoying the above rights the
Liberal is willing to take risks feared
by both conservatives and Socialists.
Not being fool, he realizes, as do
others, that society must have struc-
ture; but he is more concerned with
the freedom and fullness of the life
of the citizen within that structure
than with the structure itself"
Thomas jefferson, who was born
in 1743, was one of a family of 10
children and he became the father of
six children. He was II years younger
than the father of our country, George
Washington. Such other well-known
historical characters as Benjamin
Franklin, Patrick Henry, Alexander
Hamilton, John Adams, James Madi-
son, James Monroe and John Mar
shall were active in the days of JET
ferSon.
States Rights were very important
to jefferson and it was question
with him and other leaders of his
day, as to which was the more i'm
portant position-to be member of
the State Legislature or a member
of Congress.
Jefferson, as thorough-going
Democrat, labored diligently for uni
versal education and was the father
of much legislation with respect there
to, in the Virginia Legislature. He
felt that children who had native
ability, whether their parents were
rich or poor, should have the oppor-
tunity to 60 through high school and
college, He fought for religious free
dom and penned the Declaration of
Independence.
In those days, back in about TITS,
there were no large cities in America
and agriculture was the predominant
occupation. Thomas jefferson ap-
preciated agrarian life and he loved
to be at his large plantation and
home at Monticello. He had more
than a hundred slaves, but was kind
to them. He made one effort after
another in the Virginia Legislature to
abolish slavery, but was unsuccessful.
That task remained for Abraham Lin
coin to do.
Although he enjoyed agrarian life
he was called upon by the people to
serve in public life for 40 years. JET
ferson was a great respector of the
individual and opposed too much
government. He wanted freedom of
speech, freedom of the press and
freedom of religion and all shackles
removed from the individual.
Not all of Jefferson's ideas can be
carried into practice in detail 1856
years later, but the principles still
hold good.
From, Evchanoas