Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-04-13
The Typical Democrat.


More fortunate than many eminent
-givers in their days, who had ancient
Trors, prejudices, and abuses embodied
N customs and ordinances and PERHAPS
sanctioned by superstition, against.
which to contend, the lot of Mr.. Jeffer-
;on was cast in that which was strictly
formative period-a time when the or
yanic basis of nationality was to- be
prepared, the foundations of its civil
oolity laid, and the elements of its po-
itical future determined. 1t was here
hat the intellectual foraAss of~a4master
spirit could be brought to bear more
Immediately upon the integers. of the
situation and more distinct impression
Of them produced.A Probably no other
man saw with the prophetic clearness
Of Mr.. Jefferson. the great civil, politi-
cal and material future in store for the
Caucasian race. Upon this continent, Or
was more impressed with the impor-
Itaneeofso adapting he institutions ofthe
coming great commonwealth as allow
the fullest freedom to the mental and
physical powers and faculties of its con-
StituentS. eFtsr s4
Thus it is that we not only owe debt
to Mr.. Jefferson, but owe it in such a
manner that some mental estimate of
its nature and extent may be obtained
The ideas of Mr. Jefferson, as; embodied
in the declaration of Independence and
elsewhere, were to the .Americars what
MagnE Chdrta, at its period, was to the
English peeple--a revelation. their
| utterance. as at n touch from the wand
Of magician, the inner consciousness
of man became pregnant land new
thoughts were born. Moreover, as
these grew older errors, fallacies and
illusions. the relics of past smisrufe,
passed out of their memories, and. like
persons suddenly awakened, they cast
their eyes around, first with inquiry and
then with intelligence.A To the people
of the emancipated colonies, Mr.. Jeffer-
son was the apostle Of liberrys and if
his convictions had been allowedfo pre-
vail unmixed and unadulterated. our
institutions would have been more SYM
metricak and the future of the Anieri-
can people better assured.
Mr.. Jefferson was a man eminently
adapted to the time in which he lived:
but, broader and more flexible than
others, he was one capable of respond
ing to the demands of all times and cir.
cumstances., A patriot and states
man, resolute to resist encroachmeni
and combat error; a philosopher saga.
cious to comprehend the profoundest
| problems OF human nature, and a poll.
tician equally wise in counsel and in ac
ton, to formulate and to execute, there
is no parsonage known to American
history to whom the title pdter pdt7tdt
more properly belongs. Human liberty
was the object of his unmixed devotion
and of his untiring eXertions; liberty
pure and unauthorized liberty with
out RIGHTEOUSNESS; perfect freedom O.
thought and action, subject only to sucl
restraints as are in all countries. civil
lied and enlightened, demanded by con
siderations of public policy, morals, ant
religion.
Still there are some who believe little
in Mr.. Jefferson. Detraction loves /;
shining mark, and falsehoods begotter
during heated term in politics, becom,
Evolutionary along with their contempt
rary events. Naturally Mr. jefferson
had his maligners-those who invented
falsehoods, and those who, through par
ty and personal prejudice, tmisinter
preted facts and misjudged qualities
The same qualities which inspire friend
ship in an ally provoke enmity in al
antagonist, and few men had firmel
friends or bitterer enemies than Mr.
Jefferson. He was accused of all fol
which politicians are wont to arraigr
each other; of insincerity, of instability
in matters of opinion, and of double
dealing in affairs. But the effect of these
are worn away as in the light of better
knowledge there is more correct ap
probation of his. character; and zwher
the final verdict of history shall be pro
nounced, few of the great men of the
world will stand higher than the author
of the Declaration of the independence
of the United States of America inner
lean Register.