The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-04-28
ESTABLISHED ls4s
Thomas Jefferson.

The typical Roman character, ear
nest serious, analytic, and resolute,
deliberate In council and in action, has
not, IN modern ages, been more sym
metrically incarnated than in the person
of tho author of the Declaration Of
American Independence. In that, the
most notable public document standing
in the political history of the human
race, Mr.. Jefferson, in q few we'll
chosen words, embodied, as no one be-
fore him had ever done, the fundamental
principles of human liberty-making,
at once, them indelible and his own
fame immortal.
More fortunate than many eminent
lawgivers in, their days, who had ancient
errors, prejpdices, and abuses embodied
III customs and ordinances and perhaps
sanctioned by superstition, against
which to contend, the lot Of Mr.. JEFF
ferson was cast in that which was
strictly a formative period-a time
when the organic basis Of a nationality
was to be prepared, the foundations of
Its civil pOlity laid, and the elements of
its political future determined. It was
here that the intellectual forces of u
master spirit could be brought to bear
more immediately upon the integers of
the situation and q more distinct i'm
preston of them produced. Probably
no other man saw with the prophetic
clearness of Mr.. Jeffersan the great
civil, political and material future in
store for the Caucasian race upon this
continent, or was more impressed with
the Importance Of SO adapting the in
StitutiOns of the coming great common
wealth as to allow the fullest freedom
TO the mental and physical powers and
faculties Of it's constituents.
Thus it is that we not only owe a
debt to Mr.. Jefferson, but owe it in
such manner that some mental esti-
mate Of its nature and extent may be
obtained. The ideas of Mr.. Jefferson,
AZ embodied III the Declaration of Inde-
pendence and elsewhere, were to the
American what Magma Charta, at it's
period, was to the English people-a
revelation. At their utterance, as at a
touch from the wand of q magician, the
inner consciousness of man became
pregnant and new thoughts were born.
Moreover, as these grew older, errors,
fallacleS and Illusions, the relics of past
mlsrule, passed out Of their memories,
and, like persons suddenly awakened,
they cast their eyes around, first With
inquiry and then with intelligence. TO
the people of the emancipated colonies.
MIR. Jefferson was the apostle of liber.
ty; and if his convictions had been al
lowed to prevail unmixed and unadul-
terated, our institutions would have
been more symmetrical, and the future
OF the American people better assured.
Mr.. Jefferson was man eminently
adapted to the time in which he lived;
hut broader and laoro Hosiblo- than
others, he was one capable of respond
ing to the demands of all times and cir
cumstances. a patriot and statesman,
resolute to resist encroachment and
combat error; a philosopher sagacio,,s
to comprehend the profoundest Of hui
man nature, and politician equally
wise in counsel and in action, to for
mulate and to execute, there is no pei
sonage known to American history to
whom the title pater patrioe more prop
erly belongs. Human liberty was the
object Of his unmixed devotion and of
his umtiring exertions; liberty pure and
adulterated-liberty without licen-
tiousness; perfect freedom of thought
and action, subject only to such res
traints as are III all countries, civilized
and enlightened, demanded by consid-
crations of public policy, morals, and
religion