The Irish standard., 1892-10-15

In 1855 Jefferson was commissioned
mi,ister of France, ''to succeed" as he
very delicately expressed it, mot to re-
place DR.. Franklin, as no one could re-
place him.
What Jefferson saw in France tended
but to confirm his faith in Republican
principles. It was said OF him that he
went to France Whig of the Revolu-
tion but returned republican Demo
crat. The French Revolution, it is true,
had not yet broken out, but when it did
break out it affected no change in Jeffer-
son. True philanthropist that be was, he
sympathized most sincerely with the
French people in their sufferipgs during
the horrors of tho Revolution. But he
considered the Revolution necessary
outcome of the state of society as it then
was in France. as something that had
to be gone through in order to the arriv-
ing at true liberty and true social happi-
ness by the French people.
Tt is related that when hard pressed by
DR.. johnson to say what Cromwell had
done for the good of his people old Bos-
we'll answered: 'God, Doctor, he garth
Kings ken, they had lith in their neck. :"
He taught kings they had a joint in
their necks. No doubt, if Jefferson had
been asked what good the French Revo-
luton had done for France or for society
he would have answered after the same
manner. He would have said that the
kings and others in authority had been
taught lesson by the Revolution which
they needed greatly. He would have
said that the Revolution had taught all
tyrants, that the day had gone by when
any one of them could say as did Louis
XIV: II am the State
AS an American minister Jefferson was
extremely popular with the French peo-
pie. He was thus enabled to do mu b
in advancing the commercial and other
interests of this country. Besides, his
outspoken Republicanism, coupled with
the integrity and simplicity of his char
acter, was not without great influence on
the political tendencies of the French
people.
After five years residence in France,
Jefferson returned to this country. He
liked his position as minister to France,
and therefore it was with great reluc-
tance that he accepted the position of
Secretary of State, rendered him by
Washington s'as much from motives of
private regard as conviction Of public
propriety." In the history of the Gov
ernment, Jefferson was the first Secre-
tary of State Along with him, Hamil-
ton was selected as Secretary Of tho
Treasury.
Perhaps no two men ever sat at the
same council l-board, of more directly op-
posite views and principles Hamilton,
the leader of the Federalists. was the un-
compromising advocate of a strong CEN
tral government, whilst Jefferson, the
leader of the Democrats, was an equally
uncompromislng advocate Of State
Rights. Being men of strong convictions
it was only natural that their political
animoslties should in time become per
sonal animosities Indeed their rsla-
tions became so disagreeable, that they
requested Washington to accept the re-
signation of their positions. But Wash
ington set too high value on the SER
vices of those great men to comply with
their request, and prevailed on them to
continue to serve their country in the
positions he had given them Three
years later, b owever, Jefferson's resigna-
tion was accepted. He then retired to
private life where he continued until he
was elected yice-president in 1896.