The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-25
SECRETARY BAYARD.
An Eloquent Eulogy on the Father o
Democracy by the Secretary of War.

An Eloquent Eulogy on the Father of
Democracy by the Secretary of War.
At the recent commencement exer-
ciSes of the University of Columbia,
Mo-. Secretary Bayard delivered an
elaborate Grafton. The occasion was
rendered interesting by unwilling 4 tab
let On which was inscribed the MEM
orable epitaph OF Thomas jefferson.
Mr.. Bayard said:
There is but one word proper for me now
Il is q grateful Acknowledgement that have
been permitted TO attend these exercises here
in the center OF Missouri ana among the peo-
pie of Missouri and permitted TO witness the
progress OF the greatest work in Missouri
the raising OF the minds ana hearts of her
people. This IS education III its true sense.
IL is the building up o. the siren nth OF our Ma
ton, and |, Il humble worker, coming from 4
post somewhat OF fatigue and anxiety. am
thankful that my steps have been allowed TO
wander here. l come upon a most interest
ing occasion, for il is not merelJ the trans
planting OF this mute memorial of Thomas
JelferSOn's life and death. but also the trans
planting of the meaning of his LIE. OF the les
sons of his life, and of mis- services. and what
more proper tnan that the tablet, INSPIRED by
his own pen, with his own essential mOGesty.
and vet his own true sense OF Qro.tneSs-that
tablet concentrating the name oil the states
man and patriot VINO added the Louisiana
purchase to the United StateS-should lind
its final place in the greatest State carved
from that Louisiana purchase? II is pc
culiarly fitting that this tablet to the
memory of Thomas jefferson should ind its
lasting home among the people of Missouri
AS NV eloquent AMI valued friend, your hon
Ored Senator, in those tones of eloquence
which have attracted Senators and have so
bound the people or the State to him. was tell
ing you the history of Jeierson's life he
mingled with it. properly and historically, the
name of another, not OF Mr.. Jefferson s school
Of politics, but still a patriot longing, in his
own way, for the advancement and safety of
this country though his theories of govern
ment were not those of MIR. Jefferson, nor
those which happily nave become the ruling
force of this country, yet il seems to me that
there is no task SD delightful no task more
honorable, than that of blending the powers
the names, the principles OF two great men
into the common cause of this country's ad-
vancement, 50 desire, with much humility
ana some hesitation, TO point out, if may, the
true relations of Jefferson and Alexander
Hamilton. L have perhaps some hereditary
right TO speak OF TINS. There is cor
reSpOndence to-day in my possession to
show that TO the influence of no man
in the United States was the election in
1901 of Thomas Jefferson TO the Presidency
of the United States more due than to the
personal CounSe!s and influence of Alexan-
der Hamilton. l will tell you how this was
The election in 1871, as Senator Vest has por-
trayed to you, left the vote OF the Electoral
College at II TIE. Neither Jefferson nor Burr
had that majority i'll the joint meeting in the
two Houses of Congress which wis necessary
to be declared in order TO proclaim the PreSi-
dent. Then the machinery of our Govern
ment was called in, and ii became the duty of
the House of Representatives TO elect the
President OF the United States. Each State
voted rs unit and equally rs a unit. There
were fifteen States. In that vote some were
balanced by an equality of their representa-
tiveS, and they were Obliged TO select from
the TWO highest candidates voted for the
President who should be by them elected.
These two highest Candidates were Thomas
Jefferson and Aaron Burr-the one now the
synonym or pair. OtlSm, the other of Ireach-
cry, but not so at that day. Mr.. Burr stood
closer IN his alliance because less devoted
to principles. lie stood closer to the Federal
part than did Mr.. Jefferson, who was con-
sdered its arch-opponent. Ballot after ballot
was taken, but no election resulted; either
the votes of States were Silenced by their hav-
ing equal numbers on either side, or the vote
was withheld, or IN re Il tie. All that
time the fate of this country hung almost
upon a thread. There was no feeling of con-
centrat.on few poor and broken States
lay along the range OF the Atlantic and your
great West was Il thing almost unknown
Means OF communication scarcely existed
Opportunities of intercourse there were none.
Railways were unknown, teegraphy I'M
dreamed Of IN those days it was almost Il
rope OF sand that held together the cOnfedera-
ton OF the American Republic. There seemed
to be the probability that our Union would
fall to pieces for want of Commemorative power.
There was feeling OF Consolidation, Gut
everything fled from the center to the circum-
ference, and nothing but dissolution seemed
at hand
Then came the letters that have held in my
hand and read from Thomas Jefferson to the
then Representative from the State of Della
ware whom have the honor to call my grand
father. Applause. He held the vote of
that state and it counted as much in the bal
lot as the State of New York or the State of
Virginia. Each State had its single vote I'M
der the Constitution, and tn IS one man, and he
a member OF the FederaI party. and an oppo-
nent, politically, of Thomas Jefferson. held
that vote in his hand. He took counsel with
Alexander Hamilton. What counsel did he
counsel that the country is greater than the
party. 1t was the counsel that the Union
was worth preserving. Toe Federal st
from Delaware, instructed by Alexander
Hamilton, cast his vote for Thomas
Jefferson. Therefore. when we look to
the past for lessons and true history, let us not
fail to respect the dignity OF the men of that
day. The, did differ in counsel, they did diff
fer in theory. but they did not diIer In the
one great end for which all governments
were inteuded-tne happiness, the advance
ment AMI the welfare OF the human species.
Therefore, while we may and ought to draw
fearleSSly the truth from every lesson in the
past and lOON at its teachings uni nchingly,
let us also remember with thankfulneSS and
pride that in this American Nation there Ian
gers something stronger than party. that over
rides PERSONAL ambitions. that, where a dread
crisis approaches. teaches the Amer. can
man to put beneath his feet unworthy
and small thoughts and to rise to
the dignity of his countrFs de
mands IApplause.l The spirit that existed
in ISUJ showed itself in 1876. There was a
time when more than one-half of this people
felt that theT had been wronged in the results
of the election, but between them and the
objects of their wrath rose the form of
their mother country. and. If hand
was raised TO str Ike the form OF their country,
forbade it. and they sacrificed party demands
to the existence of this Union and to the
progress of the people OF. the United States.
lApplauSe.] | refer to these things in no
narrow spirit. as you see, of party success or
of party failure. but only in view of such an
address as we have just heard-in regard to a
man EOw recognized everywhere as u patriot,
sage, true founder of wise and liberal
principles in the Government of this country.
1t is, as say, always pleasant 10 remember
that whatever may be the differences be-
tween mems opinions, whatever may be the
differences between mems personal amhi-
tons. the American people have recognized
and they do recognize that there is point be-
yond which they can not CO. and that point is
National safety. [ApplauSe.] That is the
guard that is the boundary, that is the work
which / trust all cducat on in this country
will teach US to observe. Our education in its
form is simply to end in making US higher.
better more self su bordinate. to teach US that
we are the humble instruments in toe ad-
vancement, not of mere selfshnesS. but of
something far beyond 1.-THE glory and wei
fare of our entire country.
Mr.. CLEvELANO'S INTENTION.
His Object Is to Render Efficient the Civil
Service of the Government.