The Portland daily press., 1874-01-10
The Jeffers0nian Paradox.

The fate of Thomas Jefferson is more la
mentable than that of any other statesman,
alive or dead. -Machiayel has given us bad
adjective and bad book, though it is said
that he "meant well" and was, at heart, one
ofthe best of men and the wisest and most
liberal of statesmen. But mankind, having
Inexperienced him at the start have evil
IDENTIFY determined to be consistent even at
the expense of justice. And there is Duns
Scotus that learned schoolman-his lot has
been singularly hard. For so amiable and
wise pundt to enjoy immortality solely as
the godfather and patron of all Ounces is
surely one of the most wanton freaks of that
tickle jade-Dame Fortune. But when she
really meant to re severe, she laid her hand
on Thomas Jefferson. He was the greatest,
the most sincere and the most radical demo-
GRAFT that ever breathed the air of this CONT
nent; but since his death his name has be-
come the watchword aud slogan of reaction
airy aristocrats and of oligarchies. A more
human and benevolent man never lived; yet
what are called "Jefersonian principles"
have been constantly invoked by man-owners
history afford than the single hearted, disin-
terested devotion of Jefferson to his country?
Yet traitors made of his life and writings the
institutes of treason-the organic law Of re-
rebellion. "Jeffersonian principles" so called,
furnished the legal basis for slavery. And
it was only the other day that we saw the ex-
Vice-President of the Southern Confederacy
arising in the national House of Representa-
tives and, in his elaborate speech against the
bill which would give the African real as well
as nominal freedom, appealing to Jefferson
ian principles asa bar to that necessary act
of justice.
Now Mr.. Jefferson was as nearly perfect,
perhaps, both morally and Intellectually as
any man that ever lived. In his temper,
habits and actions it is extremely hard to
find matter for just criticism. His real
principles are so lucid and profound an ex-
position of the spirit and essential form of
popular government that they may well be
cherished and venerated by all coming gen
erations. Yet as practical politician he
made one mistake-the mistake which has
linked his name with all that he detested and
divorced it from all that he held most sacred.
His error was in his choice of vehicle for
carrying his noble principles into effect He
held the opinion that liberty would be safer
under the protection of half isolated commu-
mites but slightly controlled by common
superior, than under the protection OF the
whole people. He and the noble men of his
al. IL 4Iot 10 ,.oI.4 h.
wiser and better in fragments than as a
whole. They therefore pertinaciously chung
to that Interpretation of the constitution
which most restricted the powers of the gen
eral government-an Interpretation which.
exaggerated and perverted by bad men, has
given rise to most of the perils which have
assailed the democratic liberty so dear to the
heart of the Virginia statesman. At the
same time, by the most curious inversion
and misrepresentation of ideas imaginable,
George Washington, John Adams and Alex
ander Hamilton, who sincerely and honestly
distrusted and opposed Jefferson's pure DEM
ocracy and whose real preference was for an
adaptation of the forms and theories of the
British constitution to the wants of America,
were insisting on the Interpretation of the
constitution that most strengthens the cen
trail power-an Interpretation which, adopt
ed and enforced by good men in times
of peril and disaster, has proved
the safeguard of republican government.
The gentlemen of the Hamiltonian school
idly fancied that the central power would
have a tendency toward exclusiveness, re-
striction, selection-would cherish and con-
firm whatever remnants of aristocratic tastes
and feelings there might yet be in America
They looked for less liherality and democracy
in the whole than in the parts.
What a mistake on both sides! Jeflerson's
intellectual children, the true heirs of his
thought and executors of his will are they
who are, to-day. eager to enlarge rather than
restrictive powers of the general government,
to bring it much nearer than it is to the
business, moral and social life of the people,
to give it power to break down local abuses
and monopolies and to multiply its functions
in order to distribute more equitably the bles-
sings of democratic liberty and ensure the
largest economy by simplifying the means of
interstate transportation and communication
and establishing convenience of commercial
relations. The nation, the WHOLE strong.
true, enlightened nation, is the only power
to cope with great national business, moral
and social problems. Locally there are jeal-
ousies, diversities and consequent inertness
and distractions. s-a
Those who, like Mr.. Stephens, most fre-
quently fortify their sophistries by the cita-
ton of Jeffersonian principles know nothing
about them. They have, it is true. an init
mate acquaintance with the curious material
envelope which Mr.. Jefferson gave them: but
their knowledge extendsIno further than what
is secondary and accidental. and we may<add
unintentonal and erroneous in Jeffersonism-
10 Its spirit they are aliens. They know moth
ing OF that allembracing love of humanity.
That confidence in popular government. that
zeal for reform and that belief in human
equality which are the fundamentals of his
creed. They have contented themselves with
the mere husks, for these chance to subserye
their purposes; they care nothing Tor the
fruit within. Like many of our religious secta-
ries they insist upon the letter, but ignore
the spirit.