The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
VOL. 10, NO. 13
Lincoln, Nebraska, April 8, 1910
Whole Number 481
Two Americans
Comparing the utterances of Jefferson "with
the utterances of Abraham Lincoln, ono will
And that Lincoln used the word "republican,"
in the same sense that Jefferson used the word
"democrat." In fact, the followers of Jefferson
were first called republicans, and Jefferson
speaks of republicanism as synonymous with
democracy. For instance, in 1790, in a reply
to an address, (see Jeffersonian Cyclopedia,
page 754) he said: "The republican is the only
form of government which is not eternally at
open and secret war with the rights of men."
In 1793, in a letter to Madison, he said: "The
war between France and England has brought
forward the republicans and monocratB in every
state so openly that the relative numbers are
perfectly visible. It appears that the latter are
as nothing."
In 1821, toward the close of his life, in a
letter to General Dearborn, he said: "It is, in
deed, of little consequence who governs us if
they sincerely and zealously cherish the princi
ples of union and republicanism.','
. Jefferson embodied in the Declaratipn of In
dependence" his idea of democracy, and of re
publican, government, for the w.or.d. republican
is taken from the word republic?,, and .that means
a government .in which the people, apt .through
representatives. chosen by themselye.s. . .
Among those who believe in a .democratic
republic, there is a wide difference, between those
who emphasize, the democratic part of the name
arid want the government as near as possible
to the peopie, and those who emphasize the rep
resentative part of the name and want the gov
ernment aB far. removed from the people as pos
sible. But Jefferson and Lincoln had confidence
in the people both as to their right to a voice
in government and as to their capacity for self
government. Lincoln ' was an enthusiastic admirer of
fThqmas .Jefferson,' and in one of his speeches
said, that lie drew every political principle he had
from the Declaration of Independence.
POPULAR GOVERNMENT
Mr. Jefferson said that the- best government
was that in which the people were governed the
least. History shows that- the- best- citizen
- Bhip in peace and the best soldiery in war are
obtained where men feel that they are part of
the government and where men love its institu
tions because of their practical value.
A contented people is always a patriotic peo
ple. Apart from the correctness of the prin
ciple, "consent of the governed" is of intensely
practical advantage to the state wherein that
principle prevails. It promotes contentment
among the people, and consequently adds -to the
CONTENTS
, TWt AMERICANS
THOMAS JEFFERSON
ABOUT CONSTITUTIONS
LAWYER AND EDITOR
CONGRATULATIONS
"THE PASSIONATE CHANT OF HUMAN
FREEDOM"
CONGRESS AND THE INCOME TAX
AN IDEAL STATESMAN
WHERE THE OLD SHIP IS LEAKING
WHITEWASH
WHERE TARIFF EXTREMES MEET
CURRENT TOPICS
HOME DEPARTMENT
WHETHER COMMON OR NOT
NEWS OF THE WEEK
WASHINGTON NEWS
I
00 0 00
0
0 A Jefferson Day Thought
"Democrats consider the people as tho
safest depository of power in tho last 0
0 resort; they cherish them, therefore, and 0
0 wish to leave in them all tho powers to 0
the exercise of which they are compe- 0
tent." Jefferson to William Short, 1825. 0
0 0
strength of the government. Tho government
whose strength comes from the power of love
must be mightier and more enduring tban the
government whpse strength depends upon tho
sword. The object of good government is to
secure the greatest good to the greatest number.
So long as selfishness exists the only way by
which tho attainment of this object may bo
assured is to keep the power with tho people.
If we could be certain that all kings would
rule as well as "Wurtemberg's beloved mon
arch," of whom Kerner, tho German poet, wroto
so well, then we might be more willing to
abandon popular government and rest our hopes
for happiness upon the goodness of the crown, -but
the risk is too great. The ends of govern
ment the contentment and happiness of tho
governed were well described in the splendid
boast of the riches possessed by tho German
prince. Kerner wrote of "the richest prince" fm
in these words:
"All their wealth and vast possessions, vaunt
ing high in choicest terms, sat the German
princes feasting in the knightly Hall of Worms.
" 'Mighty,' cried the Saxon ruler, 'are the
wealth and power I wield; in my country's
mountain gorges sparkling' silver lies concealed.'
" 'See my land with plenty growing,' quoth
the Palgrave of tho Rhine, 'Bounteous harvests
In the valleys, on tho mountains noble wine.'
" 'Spacious towns and wealthy convents,'
Louis spake, Bavaria's lord, 'make my land to
yield me treasures great as those your fields
afford.'
"Wurtemberg's beloved monarch, Eberard the
Bearded cried: 'See my land hath little cities;
among my hills no metals bide; yet one treasure
it hath borne me! Sleeping in the woodland
free, I may lay my head In safety on my lowliest
vassal's knee.' . '
' "Then, as with a single utterance, cried aloud
those princes three: 'Bearded Count, thy land
hath jewels! Thou art wealthier far than we.' "
JEFFERSON TODAY
There is need today of a revival of Jefferson
ian principles. He was not an enemy of hon
estly acquired wealth, but he believed that tho
government had no right to exaggerate by fa
voritism the differences between individuals. He
believed that all should stand equal before the
law and that every department of government,
executive, legislative and judicial, should recog
nize and protect the rights of the humblest
citizen as carefully as it would tho rights of
the greatest and most influential.
Jefferson's principles, applied to the problems
of the twentieth century, would restore the re
public to its old foundations and make it the
supreme moral factor in the world's progress.
The application of his principles today would
restore industrial independence and annihilate
trusts. The application of his principles today
would drive the money changers out of tho
temple, insure to the people a representative
senate and house, tariff revision for the con
sumer rather than .for the campaign fund con
tributor and government of, by and for the
people rather than of, by and for a coterie of
men.
WHY NOT?
Ninety-one men in Pittsburg have been in
dicted on the charge of graft. Nearly all of
these men are prominent republican politicians.
Why should they be Interfered with? Why not
give these little grafters, as we do the tariff and
monopoly grafters, tho benefit of that fine old
republican slogan, "Let well enough alone?"
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was born at Shadwell, Al
bemarle county, Virginia, April 13, 1743. . H
died July14, 182G. It Is gratifying to obsorv
that in this year of 1910, democrats generally,
are observing tho anniversary of tho birth of
this great man.
Jefferson was tho ono American whoso career
was so completely identified with popular gov
ernment that a cyclopedia of his utterances has
been published and serves today as a perfect
text book, dealing with almost overy conceivablo
question of government for thoso who would
proservo this nation. While ho wrQto during
tho period which wo have beon pleased to call
tho constructive period, his warnings and his
admonitions are as serviceable today as whon
ho first uttered them.
Jefferson's is a moBt fascinating carcor. At
tho ago of thirty-one he drafted tho address to
tho king, setting forth tho rights of tho
colonists; two years later ho wrote tho Declara
tion of Independence and for fifty years there
after until his death on July 4, 182G, ho wag
the greatest champion of human rights in all tho
world.
Jefferson's service as a representative In state
and federal legislatures, as governor of Vir
ginia, ambassador to France, secretary of state
under Washington, vice president under Adams
and president, together with his service in minor
offices, covered more than forty years of his
eventful career. But tho work whjch he did
for mankind was so far-reaching in its effect
and so enduring in its character that Jefferson
is remembered for his Ideas rather than for tho
.positions which he held.
Jefferson was the greatest constructive states
man known to history. His birth and environ
ment were such as might naturally have made
him an aristocrat but he became the greatest
democrat; his wealth, considerable for that day,
might naturally have made him partial to tho
rich, but ho cast his lot with the common peo
ple. Many with less education have from a feel
ing of superiority held aloof from their follows,
but he employed his knowledge of history, of
law, of science and of art for the defense and
protection of tho masses.
Ho believed in the right of tho people to gov
ern themsolves and in their capacity for self
government. When near the end of life, fortified
by an experience and observation such as few
men have had, he wrote: "I am not among
thoso who fear the people. They, and not the
rich, -are our dependence for continued freedom."
Only four years before his death he said: "In
dependence can be trusted .nowhere but with
tho people in mass. They are inherently indc
pendent of all but moral law." At another timd
he said: "No other depositories of power than
the people themselves have ever been found,
which did not end in converting. to their own
profit the earnings of thoso committed to their
charge."
And, to add still another extract from hlo
writings: "The people are the only sure reli
ance for the preservation of our liberty."
Ho not only believed in the people, but ho
understood tho people and recognized the dis
tinctions which everywhere exist, however much
concealed or denied. Read the analysis which
he gave of parties and see how completely it
has been borne out by the history of the last
hundred years:
"Men, by their constitutions, are naturally di
vided into two parties: 1. Thoso who fear and
dlstrust'the people, and wish to draw all power
from them into the hands of the higher classes
2. Those who identify themselves with the peo
ple, have confidence in them, cherish them and
consider them as the most honest and safe, al
though not the most wise depository of the pub
lic interest. In every country these two parties
exist, and in every ono where they are free to
think, speak and write, they will declare them-
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