Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-04-17
THOMAS JEFFERSON.

A Touching EulOgy On the Great
Statesman Delivered by
Judge 8. NJ. Edwards.
The following eulogy on Thomas
Jefferson was delivered before the
Cleveland and Francis Club of
Benton City last Saturday night
and by resolution of the club was
ordered published in the LEDGER.
1t is well worth a close reading
by every friend of Democracy in
the county
At the foot of one of those singu-
lar and solitary mountains that
jut out from the Blue Ridge
range, in that old colony, distin-
guised for its chivalry, its heroes
and its statesman, on the banks OF
the Rivanna, in April, 174S,
Thomas Jefferson was born.
If great events on earth were
marked by unusual demonstra-
tons; if nature could sympathize
with humanity, surely at this time
the very elements would have
hymned in sympathy and the stars
shown brighter in the skies, for
in this event God had given anoth-
er Moses to a people.
Former ages had developed great
men, but among no people and in
no country had there been found a
man who could give u~tterance to
the great truth that "All men are
created free and equal and possess
a natural right to life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness"
The announcement of this fact
was a revelation that startled the
world, and the responsive vibration
from the human heart was like the
throes of some mighty earthquake,
which shook to their very founda-
tons thrones and monarchies and
empires. 1t was the cry of Free
dom and the death knell of tyran-
ny. 1t was the tocsin OF humanity
which made possible the high civili-
zation and wonderful achievements
of to-day, the shibboleth which
was 10 fratsrnlze the world. I hope
it may not be extravagant in me to
say that at no period before or
since has the world produced a
greater man than Thomas Jefferson.
Adams was great, but he did not
conceive such a thought ; Living
ston was great but his pen was
still ; Benz. Franklin, who bridled
the lightning's flash, vas wise
above his age, but it was Thomas
Jefferson, under Gods guidance,
who sounded the key note of
American independence and the
ultimate freedom of the world. To
hin we owe free thought, our re-
rights and our personal
liberty.
In every part of the machinery
Of our government you see the
brain work Of Thomas Jefferson.
Then, as now. there was an ele-
ment distrusttul of the people, an
element that wanted a strong gov
srnment, a government suited for
The rich, the proud, the arrogant,
all power vested in the few.
This Mr.. Jefferson resisted and
defeated. He wanted a govern
nent 'sof the people, by the peo-
pie and for the peoples Demo-
,racy.
The seeds of that old Federal
party, like the noxious Canada
are very hard to exter-
inmate. Under one name or an
concealed and disguised,
ike some infectious and loathsome
disease in the body polite, it has
come down to the present time,
md stands al the one great and
threatening danger to the rights
md liberties of the people. See to
t, fellow-citizens, that the heel of
his aristocratic idea shall never
be placed above the free thought
md equal rights of the Democracy
If Thomas Jefferson.
In June, 1776, it was a dark hour
or the colonies and for the hopes
If the world ; the grasp of despot-
sm was Tightening upon the throat
If humanity, when Richard Henry
Lee, of Virginia, offered a resolu-
ION in the Continental Congress,
that these colonies are and of
light TO be free and independ-
mt States" The discussion of
his resolution was laid over until
he LIST of July, and a committee
to draft a more formal
with Richard Henry
Lee as chairman. How wonderful
md mysterious are the ways of
Providence. That the guiding hand
IF the Infinite might be made APP
Lee was stricken with dis
base, and upon Mr.. Jefferson, his
rested the great RESPONSE
bility Of the hour, The commit
lee was q remarkable one, for upon
It were no less distinguished men
than Jno. Adams of Massachusetts,;
D.. CL.-,,n - ro4-anksn.,k.