The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-10-17
A WOMAS IN POLITICS.

the SECOND ITSSlQ6u6, was one Oh
the accomplished ladies who have
been acknowledged leaders in
American society, and have held
honorable places among foreigners
OF high birth and station. She
was a genuine politician, also, tax
ing a keen interest in the strng-
giles OF parties; stimulating the
ambition of her husband, and
training her son for his long and
brilliant career in public life. If
she were living to-day, it is quite
possible she would be foremost
among the strong minded women,
who are asserting their right to .
share in social and public affairs.
Her letters are of high value to
the historian, giving q clear in
sight into the movements of the
times, and into the character of
the men who led and shaped them.
Mr.. Parton has furnished q
striking sketch of her indepen-
dence and candor, IN his article
on Thomas Jefferson, in the At
lantic Monthly for September.
She had been deeply wounded
when Mr.. Jefferson was elected
President over her husband, in
1901, and all intercourse between
the families ended. But when his
youngef daughter died, her warm
heart was touched, and she wrote
a tender letter of sympathy to the
bereayed father, closing, however,
with an allusion to the estrange-
ment, in signing herself one "who
once took pleasure in subscribing
herself his friend" yt aH
Mr.. Jefferson replied with
thanks for her kindness, and re-
grets for alienation, stating can
didly that he had only one griey-
ancs against Mr.. Adams, that just
as he was retiring from effice he
filed all vacancies with ardent en-
emies of the new incumbent.
But, he added, 81 soon returned
to the same state of esteem and
respect which had so long subsist-
ed" s.-.-- - .''.--.
This opened door for CORES
pondence, into which Mrs. Adams
entered eagerly as a war-hOrse
paWeth for the battle. She said
not a word to Mr.. Adams, prefer
ring to carry on the fray alone.
Mr.. Adams, she said, had only i'm
itated the example of General
Washington, who left no offices to
ha GlIaH hxy hiS onooacoOr LIa a.,
tended no disrespect to Mr.. Jeffer
SON, and q large part of the APP
pointments were made before it
was known that Mr.. Jefferson was
elected. But, she added, he had
wounded Mr.. Adams sharply.
some of the first acts of your ad-
ministration was to iberate a
wretch who was suffering the just
punishment of his crimes for pub
fishing the basest libel, the lowest
and vilest Islander which malice
could invent or calumny exhibit,
against the character and reputa
ton Of your predecessor. The
remission of calendars fine was
a public appreciation of his con-
duct" MIR. Jefferson, she added,
had done more than remit the fine.
He had, given Calender fifty dol
lars, and complimented him on
his writings. I'D
''One other act of administra-
tion," she added, 'was personally
unkind," the removal of her son
from offlce), shut as it affected
neither character or reputation, 1
forbear to state it, This was
carrying the war into Africa Wig
orously, and Mr.. Jefferson felt
called on to make an elaborate de-
tense. He denied al knowledge
of the wretch referred to, but said
he had pardoned every offender
under the Alien and Sedition Law,
because he regarded it a nullity;
he had in no case asked the nature
of the offense. AS to Mr.. Callen-
der, the compliment was given he
fore he had INDUCED in coarse
libel; and the money was given
''to relieve restitution, not to re-
ward scurrility." AS to the per-
sonal unkindness, he added: 81
declare, on my honor, I have not
the least conception what act was
alluded to-" ..-.
This called forth another letter
from Mrs. Adams, in which the
mothers heart spoke strongly:
"As soon as Congress gave the
appointments to the President,
you removed my eldest son from
Office. This looked so particular
~ pointed that some of your best
friends in Boston, expressed their
regret that you had done So"
Mr.. Jefferson replied promptly
that he had not removed John
Quincy Adams. The commission
ers were discontinued by an act of
Congress. "Had i known that
your son had acted, it would have
been a pleasure to me to have pre-
ferred him to some who were
named in Boston"
1t is pleasant to know that Mrs.
Adams accepted frankly the ex-
plantations made by Mr.. Jefferson,
though the breach of friendship
continued for several years. Mrs.
Adams showed the letters to her
husband after the correspondence
closed. He was evidently proud
of the ability she had shown and
of her hearty championship, and
was Modified by the kind tone of
Mr.. Jefferson. A few years later
they were reconciled, and their
warm friendship continued till
death. asEl
Few OF our great statesmen
have had wives of so much intel
lectual force or political wisdom
as Mrs. Adams. Her genius has
passed into her children to the
third generation. If some of the
leaders of the movement for wo.
mans voting In our day had more
of her lofty character and person
al worth, its prospects of success
would be more hopeful. 1t is
sometimes betrayed by its profess.
ed friends.-Rhode Island Jour
nal.
1, When in Paris the Shah of Per.
STA visited the Jardin DIES Plantes
and was much pleased not only