Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-07-03
From the Augusta (Me.) journal.
Lincoln "a ,JefTersOnian Democra


The republicans of Boston celebrated Thorn
as Jeferson's birthday on the 18th of April,
1859. Among those invited to be present was
the Hon. Abraham Lincoln, who responded in
a letter OF great power and of remarkable fe-
licity of expression. We thought at the time
that Of all the political letters we had ever
read it was the most pointed and most forcible,
and our great surprise is that up to this time,
so far as we have observed, it has not been re-
published. After diligent search among some
old clippings" we have succeeded in finding
it, and with peculiar pleasure lay it before our
readers. 1t is a platform in itself, worthy of
the endorsement Of all who believe in the fun
damenal doctrines of free government as
taught by Thomas Jefferson. Here is the let
ter:
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, April 6, 1859.
Gentlemen Your kind note inviting me TO
attend festival in Boston on the 18th instant
in honor of the birthday of Thomas Jefferson,
was duly received. My engagements are such
that | cannot attend. Bearing in mind that
about seventy years ago two great political
parties were first formed in this country that
Thomas Jefferson was the head Of one of
Them and Boston the headquarters of the 9TH
er, it is both curious and interesting that those
supposed to descend politically from the party
opposed to Jefferson should now be celebrat-
ing his birthday in their own original seat of
empire, while those claiming political descent
from him have nearly ceased to breathe his
name everywhere.
Remembering, too that the Jefferson party
was formed upon its supposed superior devo.
ton to the personal rights of men, holding the
rights Of property to be secondary only and
greatly inferior, and then assuming that the
socaled democracy of to-day are the Jefier-
son, and their opponents the anti.Jefferson
L.,
how completely the two have changed ground
as to the principle upon which they were
originally supposed to be divided.
The democracy of to-day hold the liberty of
one man to be absolutely nothing when in
conflict with another mans right of property
Republicans, on the contrary, are for both the
man and the dollar, but in case Of conflict the
man before the dollar.
l remember being once much amused at
seeing two partially intoxicated men engaged
in fight with their great coats on, which fight,
after long and rather harmless contest, ended
in each having fought himself out of his own
coat and into that Of the other. If the two
leading parties OF this day are really identical
with the two in the days of Jefferson and Adj
ans, they have performed the same feat as the
two drunken men.
| But, soberly, it is now no chid's play to
save the principles Of Jefferson from total
! ONNlbhlO III WIS HtilOut OHt WOulu state
with great confidence that would convince any
sane child that the simpler propositions Of
Euclid are true; but, nevertheless, he would
fail with one who should deny the definitions
and axioms The principles of Jefferson are
the definitions and axioms Of free society And
yet they are denied and evaded, with no small
show of success. One dashingly calls them
'glhtering gcneralties.' Another buntly
styles them 'selfeyident lies And others in
sidously argue that they apply only to super.
ior races
These expressions, differing in form, are
identical in object and efect--the suppIanting
the principles OF free government, and re.
storing those of classification, caste, and
Legitimacy. They would delight con.
vocation of crowned heads plotting against
the people They are the vanguard, the sap.
pers and miners, of returning dcspotism We
must repulse them, or they will sulJugate us.
This is world Of compensations and he
who would be no slave must consent to hare
no slave. Those who deny freedom to others