, 1873-08-10
PART0N'S LIFE or JEFFERSON,

PART0Ns LIFE Of JEFFERSON,
Tho sovorest criticism TINT has yet been mado
on Gen. Grants Administration is contained in
hlr. Partons paper on "The Art of Doing prosi-
| DENT" as gathered from the experience of
Thomas JofIorson, published in tho current
number OF tho atlantic Monthly. Con. Grants
nauo iH not mentioned In the article, nor is tho
aightost reference made to his Administration.
Tho paper is d component part Of Alr. Parton'a
Forthcoming "Life of Jefrorson." It is not DOS
eiblo to rcad it, however, without experiencing
n constant suggestion Of contrasts botweon tho
Republican administration Of the Government
from 1901 to 1900 and tho administration, also
Republican In nan1o, from tho time OF Con.
Grants Inauguration to the prosont day. The
circumstances undor which Mr. il Jo1forson ontoroa
the Presidency wore not Us favorable as those
that surrounded Con. Grant. Tho Government
! WAS then In its experimental stage. Thoro wore
traditions and rolics Of royalty on all
aidcs. Tho opposing party, which was
ono OF great force, Represented that
kind Of conservatism which dscorns anarchy and
revolution in everything tint docs not precisely
conform to its notions. Tho Fedoralists had
boon in power, md Ind tho control of tho Offices.
Tho country was closely divided AIr. jefferson
was barely elected after 4 horco struggle Ills
opponents regarded him as D sort Of Jncobin.
Ihcao wore trying times. Gen. Graut on tho
contrary, Was carried to tho Presidential chair
on tho shoulders of tho poop1o, with.
huzzas Of triumph and words Of encour-
aGoulcnt On all sides. Tho Government
had just given to tho latter tho most
practical evidences Of pormanoncy. Tie party
which elected him WAS in possession Of tho Fod-
oral Government aud of most Of tho State Coy.
ernments. Tho country was prosperous. Tho
most perplexing questions OF reconstruction in
the robollious States had beon settled. Tloro
was nothing for tho incoming President to do
but to gnide tho reins Of Government steadiy
nnd honestly. There was no occasion for the
active influence Of d great intellect nt tho head
OF tho Government, as in Jofforsons timo. Had
there been., the contrast between tho tyo
Administrations would have boon none
tho loss striking in itsolf, but there would have
boen less roason to bo surprised at it. No ono
would ever think of comparing tho two mon in
point Of stateamanship.
1t was not necessary that Con. Grant should
equal Alr. Jefferson in ability. Find ho initiated
this iuustriouB predecessor in honesty of
purpose mud doconoy Of conduct ho would
have satisfied tho demands Of tho timo. Tho
rules Of Mr. Jefrerson's Administration woro
clearly wrftton. Ho sustained an honest civil
service without any advisory Doard Of Commits
sioners, and without regulations. Ho refused to
appoint mon who had no other claim to Office
than that Of conspicuous partisanshlp Calloulor
Of Richmond, was tho typo Of the journalistic
of1ico-Hookcr Of to-day; but he did not got tho
Post-oiilce no sought. The newspapers through
out tho country were not subsdized with tho
Ponsson-Agcncies, the Appraiscrships, Collector
ships, or Post Offices. George Rogers Clarke
WAS horo, but ho was also dr,,nhard, oad ho
could not socure tho management OF Indian AZ
fairs from Jc1fcrson, though he WIS capable 9TH
orwiso. John Randolph waB driven oyor
to tho opposition because Afr. Jofrorson
would not 1iston to his diotation of
unfit men. It was tho rule OF all
his appointments to secure tito right
mum for tho right place, Ho nogcr appointed
relative to office. There woro no Caaeys,
nor Kramors. nor Donts, nor Hudsons,
In his day. Ills continents in this regard were
10 vol known TINT his kindred made no effort
to secure Federal places. "Tlo public will
mover be mado to bolioye," ho said, "that tho
appointment OF a relative is made on tho ground
Of merit alone, uninluoucod. . by family views"
II this was ttue In Jofforsons day, it will henco-
forth DO an axiom established by our experience
with Con. Grants oflce-holling family. Two
Of A1r. Jelroraon'a Bons-1n-law we're kent In
Congress by their constituents during his torn
but tho President strictly avoided m expression
of opinion on political subjects IN their presence.
Ho did not exempt his friends from his rule Of
appointments. Ho sent no Joncsos abroad;
called no Dories or nobesons to his Cabinet;
no Murphys Collectors. uo turned
no mon out Of Office simply because they wore
opposed to him in politics, though ho was
faithful enough to his party to insist that |
tho FodorAlBtB in Office should not uso
their places for elcotionooring purposes. OH |
cial naconduct was tho aolo cauao for.
removal. Men might voto as thoy pleased. |
1fe could SEQ no difference betwcon denying tho |
right Of suffrage ind punBhiug man for exer- |
caing 1t. II Senator scl,urz Ind livod In bis |
time, aud gono over to tho opposition, ho would |
not have mndo q Wholesale sweep Of the Federal |
oltco-hollors In sohurz's State, or gone into ALL
other State to ronoyo brothor-in-law Of tho |
Senator. It waa Jotrorsons constant
pftort to koop down tho Government patronage
to tho minimum. IIo WAS always suggcat-
Ing J, to 0allatin Qsccrotary OF tho Treas
ury) tho amalgamation OF Offices or
The suppression Of Buportluoua placos. lie
woull not have Sustained sots Of rovenuo
officers in various partB of tho country whose
salaries exceeded tho gross amount Of thoir
collections. Jeiroraon came into oiloo at tino
whom the etiquette WAS as strict aud tho formal
ty as oppressive in Washington III IN a
European court. ua abollsled all this, ro-
NAMED plain ThomaH JolforHon, and WAS to
20 aeen at all tlmea without coronony. 1Io
oEloyed his Cabinot officers from responsibility
or tho entertainment Of distinguished guests,
which had previously boon sore trial to tleir
11o othorwso used hia salary for
10 benolt Of the people. Ills neighbora III
7irgnih ,,Hod to think that, aB Mr. Jefferson re-
aiyed alarge salary, ho could afford better than
ny Of tho1n to supply needed improvements. He
ovor failed to respond to thoir demands. He
'as constantly engaged In projects for doyelop-