Richland beacon., 1873-08-23
Jefferson and His Enemies.

Jefferson and His Enemies.
Jefferson both believed and proved that
apublic man, fit for his place and doing
his duty, cannot be injuled by hostile
press. This truth we now all know, and
have seen it tested many times but in
1901 it was discovery. Nor was there
then in Christendom one government
besides that of the United States strong
and able enough to permit freedom of
the press. Bonaparte's, of course, was
not. Pitts was not. Nor was there a
government in all Europe where the
idea of free press could be entertained.
And what made JeffersOn's triumph the
more remarkable was that the federal
lists We're the "vocal class" 1t was
they who filled most pulpits, wrote most
books, edited most papers, presided in
most courts, pleaded most causes, and
taught in most colleges. They were
denominated the educated class. Edu-
cation. at that day, did not mean the
acquisition of knowledge, but of schol.
arship which, while it cultivates the
communicating talents, may leave the
prejudiccs intact, and is compatible with
the last degree of mental servility and
narrowness. A man may become a
genuine scholar and remain Jesuit.
The federalist leaders, too, were exas-
perated beyond mortal endurance.
Their self-love was torn all to pieces.
They had pred cted their own speedy
return to power they saw their minor
ity dwindling at every election. They
fOretold anarchy; they saw universal
order and general content. They had
prophesied financial chaos they saw
every obligation of thegovernment met,
its debt steadily diminished, it's credit
peri ct, its only embarrassment sur-
plus. They had expected a suppression
of the navy they now saw, for the first
time, the navy put to its legitimate use
in terminating the piracies of the Alge-
rines. They had dreaded an expulsion
from Office of all their adherents they
saw the right of opinion respected, and
no man disturbed in his place, except
for a reason that did not include his
political creed. They had predicted a
reign of loafers and SCALA" ags they
saw the great offices filled with men who
were both refined by scholarship and
enlarged by knowledge. They had fore
told base subserviency to France !;
they saw the president win from France
the most valuable acquisition that one
country ever gained from another since
the creation, and this without blood
shed. They had predicted insult and
rash hostility to Great Britain; they
saw the moment come when, with uni.
versal acclamation, Jefferson could have
had war with England, and yet he held
back the conflict for another four years,
every month of which made that con-
fiict less unequal.
It is not in mortals to behold with
equanimity such brilliant and trium-
phant wisdom in the career of person
against whom they are publicly COM
mitted. The leading federalists seem
to have been equally puzzled and indig-
nant. G. G. Pinckney could only attri-
butte the strengthening hold Jefferson
had of the public confidence to "the
infatuation of the people" John Quincy
Adams thought that Jefferson's success
was owing to an unaccountable run OF
good luck. Fortune" said he, "has
taken pleasure in making Jefferson's
greatest weaknesses and follies issue
more successfully than if he had been
inspired with the profoundest wisdom y
This in 1904. Before Mr.. Jefferson
went out of office. Adams was q re-
publican.) Gouverneur Morris, the
jovial and witty aristOcrat, set it down,
Froude-fashion, to the natural-baseness
of merchants and traders. 1t was a
favorite fiction of the class of tories
represented by Morris, that the count.
ing-rOom is center and resort of all that
is sordid and contemplate. Bnt Morris
did not despair Of the republic. "When
the people" said he, "have been long
enough drunk, they will get sober but,
while the frolic lasts, to reason with
them is useless. Their present leaders
take advantage of their besotted condi.
tion, and tie their hands and feet but,
if this prevents them from running into
n11Afre, why should we, who are Their
Cffiends, complain ?" Fisher Ames
~-thoHght it was all q piece of impudent,
= reckless imposture, which just happened
to succeed. "Never before, wrote he,
"was it attempted to play the fool on
so great scale" Hamilton solved the
the enigma with the utmost ease, in his
old manner; his central imnlutable
prluclplc UcluS tulS XuoA 10 "i' oco'
In his usual housekeeping style, he re-
marks; "Mankind are forever des'
tined to be the dupes of bold and cum
ming imposture. Old John Adams,
nursing his wrath to keep it warm,
Eliminated comparative history, but
hought the people would open then
ewes at last. en-" said he, "the tai
. ents, the policy, the address, the power
the bigotry and tyranny OF Archbishop
I Iaud and the court of Charles the
First were not able to destroy or dis
credit sound principles in 1881 or 1850
kfhere is little cause of apprehension iol
Them from the feeble efforts OF the
frivolous libertines who are combining
onspiring and intriguing against then
1602." 8.
s. the uppermost men of the opposl
nnte thus in their confidential cor
~, wsem imagine the toni