New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-27
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
JEFFERSON.


,,,prrpsoN nv JOHN T. MORSE, Jf. GAmeri-
can Statesmen.l 16mo. pp' W.. DOL "o'e"''''
Mifilin, & Co. ,;,, h;oo
Mr. Morse is certainly not an admlr'hg prog
co., ar but he attributes to Thomas Jehersoh 'no
- a..,ootsr winch belongs to so few men ID
my" . rnhIc life. of q philosophic statesman
q I.ee,son y he remarks. was the most astute and
.,sfrl politician who has yet fourshed IN a
s~nn,rv sinsularlv and unfortunately prolific oil
.his not very estimable race. But he was very
,nncb more than a politician. and he added some
thi,y even 10 the essential traits of Statesman
he WAS profound thinker concerning The theory OF
government and the principles of social ana po'it-
ical Organization" This praise is repeated several
times with varying phiase0logy ana tue au'""I
seems to feel IL duty to remind MS That pi"io"hu
craftsmanship VAS the note which chiefly distin-
gu,sb.d Jefferson from the other patriots of his era
Vat his narrative does not justify his conclusions.
His onnon might have passed if he hal not under
taken to give the reasons for IT. AZ u happeps no
has Inyslidated the verdict b, Kidding the EVIL
dence. He shows that Jeherson's poti, ri theories
were all wrong; that bis forecasts were o''o"
grossly o,istaLen: that he could not lead people
or a party. but could only march In the ffon' oil
them that he was wildly visionary and imPr'ct'-
cohia. that in the administration OF the Government
he was successful only when he violated bis prh-
ri, les OF Jelersun's exposition Of one OF his most
characteristic political theories MIR. morse saws
Cons loses patience with an Intelligent man ''iA'
inc such stuh,"-" stuff" which no pro"ou"o's
q very had ponsense."" preposterous, ana "nuicu-
Ions .: and in another place he says: III snakes
ones faith IN mankind to find really great Sa'es
man uttering such folly" Jefersons philosophical
bent il alluded to AS that absurd element III MS
mind which his admirers sought to excu>e oy call
ing him phos0p ber': and OF certain utter
ann. tlnrr a-
marks: What he meant by this vague and absurd
nbrass as characteristic of his habits of express
sion 1t is not easy say. aud for the moment one
almost forgets the high deserts Of the reforner IN
Irritation al his chatter about the complete eman
ci,at,on of bumnn nature" Mr.. Morse is much
roo free with such objurgatory CRITICISMS; even
when they are substantially sound thev arc dehV-
errd in the offensive tone ut a bumDtious aud su-
peror person VINO has no respect for anybody less
Nd aucea and enlightened than himself--that Is 10
cav for an ybody from whom he differs in opinion
How this cuntemptuous manner can be reconclIed
with belieI in the pTofundty OF Jehersous STATES
manship may seem puzzle Bnt the difficulty
arises from the authors carelessness in language
rather than from rial confusion In his thought.
When he saws thai Jefferson was great statesman
he does not quite it, any more than he Is To be
taken literally when be says that Jefferson was
q nrobablv the greatest letter writer who ever
H,ed.v The fact is that Jefferson was not man OF
e,pedients but first of all political theorist; he
had positiys ideas upon human rights and duties
and the principles of government; he was i0nd OF
g.ueralzlDg aud phlOsophizing upon these SUD-
ects: and he tried to direct his publc career by q
Drioyi rules evolved from abstract roasonings. In
this philosophical bent" he exhibited one OF the
oualines of craftsmanship; bot DSiore We can eau
him a great statesman we must show that his prln'
c,ples were sound ana that his application oil
them was correct.
The highest merit of Jefferson as statesman was
his trust in the mass of the people as the only safe
and lust source of political power lie lived IN an
age of radicalism, and the democratic doctrines
which he preached were fast becoming fashionable
when be entered public life but if he did not lead
the multitude in his acceptance OF the Dew IDEAS
he did lead the most distinguished politicians OF
that time aud he foresaw that the multltude was
sure to outvote and push aside the minority OF edu-
Gated and rejecting who passed Tor the conser-
yative element of the population. Ii was his alnbi-
ton to place himself at the head of this popular
movement whose force and direction he was so much
quicker than the others to perceive; but there was
nothing Of the denagogue in bis composition.
Concerning this confidence of Jefferson in the
people which must he so constantly borne 10 Iniad
In order to comprehend his character, some obser-
yations should be made Not merely did he app,e-
fOreSee
but he had perfect faith in the ability OF the
exercise of that power he anticipated that in TINS
exercise the masses would always snow wisdom and
discrimination, that they would select the
,uost able and most honest mon in the country TO
preside over the National affairs, men like himself
aud Mr. Madison. 1t was delightful IDEAL oil
body poltlc W hich lie mad before his eyes wherein
a huge volume of humaa poverty aud Ignorance
would be always pleased TO recognize and sat 0"er
itself a few exalted individuals OF lofty character
aud distinguished intelligence. In his day it was
still a question how poverty and ignorance "Ould
behave In politics and 1t was hiS firm expectation
that they would behave with modeStv and self
abnegation. 1t wsss kindly belief out indicative
of the usiast He deserves the praise OF think
Ing be- tier of his fellow than they deserve II
lie couli see what sort of men have fact satisfied
the people since his doctrines have become devel-
oped, he would probably greatly modify them.
No doubt this estimate of Jeferson's democracy is
fair 1t was craftsmanship 10 foresee the newt
able development Of the new theories of popular
government, and to make prompt application OF
this foresight to practical affairs; but 1t is poor
tribute to Jeferson's wisdom to say that he
stumbled upon right conclusion from wrong prem
ises and that be would be "astonished and
shocked if he could the present consequences
OF his teachings In this superstition we think that
Mr.. Morse is wrong. The Multitude have not done
what Jefferson expected. but they have done IN he
main what he held that they had right to do
they have pleased themselves.
Whatever was good however, in tho JefiersOnian
theory of democracy, was so closely bound mp with
what radically evil that IL Is difficult 10 dis
tnguish the false from the true The principle
that tne people should govern shaded almost imper
ceptbly into the idea that there should De as nearly
as possible no government at all. Jefferson "couId
hardly bring himself to declare that the people
should govern. because he had lurking
notion that there should be no government
at all. The rights Of man. the favorite
slaug phrase of the day, signhed to his mind an
almost entire absence OF governmental CONTROL"
His faith in the laxest form of democracy scarcely
removed from anarchy, stood to him IN the place OF
D religion" He believed that those societies las
Indiapsl which live without government ENJOY In
their general mass infinitely greater degree OF
happiness than those who live under the European