The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-08-24
Dismemberment of Jefferson's
Remains.


Remains.
Next to overt acts of treason we can think
Of nothing more reprehensble in a politician,
than the Misrepresentation and total perver-
sion of the remains of those sages, philoso-
piers and statesmen, whose sayings and opln-
ions have been embalmed in the public heart,
and become the chart by which their success
ors feel safe in guidingthe ship of State. Inc
teacher of religion who, to carry POINT III
discussion, should deceive his people by know
ingly misquoting the Scriptures, and willully
misrepresentng the teachings oil prophets and
apostles by omissions or additions, would be
deemed worse than the open iniidel, and niin-
itely more deserving of the scorn and reproach
of every friend Of truth. So, too, the political
journalist or public speaker, who knowingly
misrepresents the Farewell Address of Wash
ton, or the teachings of Jefierson,or any other
equally important lesson of the past, by mis-
quotations, or by adding thereto or sub
tracing thercfrom anything essential to
true understanding Of the matter, is williul
deceiver, does the grossest injustice to the
| memory of the revered names of the nation,
! and proves himself unworthy of public conf
| dence, and is Justly entitled to the unmingled
execraiions OF every honest heart. We have
q case in point:
I In the Argus Saturday morning was leader
evidently prepared not without much care and
labor, entitled "Jeferson's Touchstone. The
Creed of our Political Faith" The article
| opens with this sentence:
| Mr.. Jefferson, in his first inaugural address,
| laid down the following political maxims as the
creed Of political faith, and the tombstone by
| which to try the services of those trust.
| 1t enables us to discover departures from the true
course and with the chart before u.s. to return to it,
Jefferson was the founder of the Democratic creed
the study of il now as dram up by ham will not be
aniss. 1t reads thus
Who would expect, from such preface, TO
fad garbed, emasculated extract from what
Jefferson actually said, palmed off, not as ''the
essential principles of our government" as
Mr. Jefferson himself expressed it, but as 'the
creed OF our political iaiih?" Who would
| suppose, when JefIerson's first inaugural is
found in almost every school district in the
State, that a political editor would dare gar
Bile it, and by studied omissions present, as
"the Democratic creed, as drawn up by him."
something which, when compared with its
whole connection, is no better than a counter
| felt or caricature? Here is what that false,
deceptive and venal sheet gives as fair ex-
tract from the inaugural referred to- and
which it styles, "the creed of our political
faith" "as dracn up by" Jefferson himself
a. The Diffusion of Information
Z" The Arrangement of all Abuses at the bar of
Public opinion;
| - Freedom of Religion;
| :" Freedom of the Press
Erapdnm af nrOtpctlou
" Trial by Juries impartially selected"
90 These principles form the bright constellation
which has gone before us, and guided our steps
through an age of revolution and reformation. The
wisdom sagcs and the blood of our heroes have
| been devoted to their attainment. They should be
the creed of political faih the text OF our civil
instruction. the touchstone by which to try the SER
vices OF those trust and should We wander from
them in moments of error alarm, let hasten to
retracc steps and regain the road which alone
leads to peace, liberty and safety"
We have before us an authorized version OF
Jefierson's first inaugural, and below We give
the entire paragraph from which the foregoing
is garbled, enclosing the omitted portion in
brackets; and .ee sask DE careful attention Of
the Intelligent reader 70. the words of wisdom
which it contains. We itdlicize few of the
items which the modern school of democracy
would do well TO study, and the disregard o.
which, by the Democrats of the South and
their allies of the North, has involved US IN
bloody struggle:
GAbout TO enter. fcllow-cifizcns the exercise O
duties which comprehend avery thing dear aud yalu
able TO you, IL is proper you should undestai what
deem the essential principles of Government
and consequently, those which ought 10 shape il,
administration. ] will compress them within ths
narrowes compass they will bear-statng the gener
al principle, but not all its limitations. Equal
eracf Ja fce 10 all men of rhaterer state persua
sion, religious or political; peace, commerce. and
honest friendship with all nations, cnangling allan
ces with none; the support OF the state government,
III all their rights. rs the most competent administers
tions Tor our domestic concerns, and the bull
warks against anii-republiean tendencies the pres
creation Of the General Government IFS choie con
shtmiondt rigor, the sheet-aachor OF peace al
home and safety abroad; jealous care rtte righ
efetecitOn by the people mild and safe corrective
abuses which are Topped BY the ord of revolution
where peaceable remedies are ubproyided; aJsoist,
dcqaiescence in the cisions the majority The rita
principle u republics from rhch is appeal 5at "a
force, the ritat principle and Immediate parent
despotism; well disciplined militia. best reliance
in peace and for the first moments in war, till regu
lars may relieve them the supremacy of the civil
pense that labor may be lightly burdened he hones,
payment Of our debts, and sacred preservation IF III,
Puotc Faith; encouragement OF agriculture. and OF
commerce as Its handmade the diffusion of informa
non and arraignment of all abuses at the bar
pubic reason; freedom of religion, freedom OF the
press andl freedom of person, under the protection
oftho habeas corpus and trial by juries mpartialy
selected These principles form the bright constella
ton which has gone before u.s. and guided our stems
through an age of revolution and reformation. Tho
wisdom of our sagcs and blood of our heroes have
been devoted to their attainment. They should be
the creed of our political faith tho text OF civil in
sructon, the tombstone by which try the service,
ofthose we trust; and should VIC wander from them
in moments OF error Alarm let hasten to rcrace
our steps, and to regain the road which alone lead.
TO peace, liberty. and safety.
IL will be seen by the above, that no man
can stand Jeflerson's test of patriotism who
like the Southern rebels and their Northern
apologists resist the " decisions of the MAORI.
ty," or who are willing, as they have proved
themselves on repeated occasions, to violate
the right of election by the people, wide Le-
comptonism in Kansas, for example,l who de-
ny the right of the General Government to
maintain lis constitutional vigor, and who, as
the leading modern democrats are now fore
Swallowing, are prepared to destroy The pub
lie faith by reputation of the honest indebt.
edncss of the nation. Mr.. Jefferson intended
his essential principles of government" for
ordinary times, and as he has said, while stat.
ing the general principle" he has not given
all its limitations" One of those Limitations
Is distinctly set forth by him in that memorable
letter of 1910, to Mr.. Colyin, in which he said
The question whether circumstances do not soma
times occur which make it a duty in officers hgb
trust to assume authorities beyond the LAWS easy
OF solution in principle but sometimes
IN practice. strict observance Of the written laws
is doubtless one Of the high duties of good citizen
but IT is not the highest. The iacs Of necessity OF
self preservation, Of sdripg our counfry ,rbe,, IL
danger, are Of higher obligation To lose our coun.