The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-20

| only OF liberty. equality. and fraternity Tor al
mankind. he had the penetration to discern
that neither France nor the American repub.
lie was yet ripe for the experiment OF placing
absolute sovereignty In the hands OF the com.
mon people. Even in the first flush OF French
enthusiasm he would not lend his sanction to
the new party term OF Democrat: nor to those
Democratic clubs which fourshed In
Americas chief cities for short time after the
model OF tho French Jacobin societies In
France. the downfall OF Robespierre brought
about the ruin OF the Jacobin clubs. while their
imitators In our own country. the Democratic
clubs sank In 1904 under the political odum
| OF the whiskey Instruction In western Penn
sylvanin. which they had abettsd. and under
tho stigma of "self-created societies" Affixed
| by Washington's M essnge sent that year to Con-
Rress. Mr.. Schouler notes that Jefferson would
| not suffer this spithet to pass unchallenged.
because It's too sweeping application showed
an i'm perfect pprehension OF the basis upon
which all popular parties In republic like
| ours must eventually rest.
Jefferson resigned the post OF Secretary Of
State at the close OF 1903. and except Monroe.
who soon repented his willingness. none Of
tho statesmen who shared Jefferson's political
tcnets. would consent to hold Responsible
| office under Washington's Administration.
From the moment OF my retiring from the
| ADM istration." says Jefferson, when review
| ing this period In the preface to his " Anas,'
"the Fedeialists got unchecked hold OF Gen.
| Washington. His memory was already SEN
sibly impaired by age: the firm tone Of mind
for which he had been remarkable was begin
| ming to relax: its energy was abated n list
| lessness for labor desire for tranquility had
| crept on him. and willingness to let others
| act and even think for him. Like the rest of
mankind. he was disguised with the atrocities
| OF the French revolution and Was not SUM-
| ciently aware OF the difference between the
rabbe who were used as instruments OF their
| preparation. and the steady and rational
| character Of tho American people. in which he
| had not sufficient confidence" No decided
rupture. however. took place between these
| great Virginans: the two met cour-
| teously in public at Adams's Inauguration:
but their correspondence and private inter-
course ceased. and a letter written by Jeffer-
son in 17!,J to Mazzei. an Italian revolutionist.
and published year later which made aliu-
sion to the shorn "Samsons in the feld,' was
held up by the Federalists to popular execra-
ton long after Washington's death as sacri.
legious afrront to Washington's inviolable
person. jefferson always disclaimed the In
tention Of such an application. and the mass
OF voters. at all events. refused to censure
him. Mr.. Schouler. however. pronounces 1t
very certain that jefferson did not echo the
current TnupSOuleS WHICH HukuAhou viz hhoe
President into an infallble demgod. That
he had written from his distant retreat to pri-
yate friends in Congress- with less veneration
for WASHING ton's good Judgment on some
points OF policy than for his personal virtues
and honesty is susceptible OF proof by more
conclusive testimony than the once celebrated
Mazzei letter. Yet the author OF this sketch
does Jefferson the Justice to add that political
differences OF opinion never blinded him to the
transcendent qualities OF Washingtons char
acter. which he had known long and intimately
enough to appreciate. while alive to its posi-
BILE limitations
1t will be remembered that in the Presi-
dental contest OF 1906 a change Of two cleo
toral votes frem one side to the other would
have made Jefferson President instead OF
Adams. As 1t was under the constitutional
regulation which then obtained. Jefferson. hav-
ing received the next highest number Of cleo
toral votes. became Vice-President Although
permitting. OF course. the use Of his name by
party friends Jefferson had protested through
out tho campaign the greatest Indifference for
public Office. and even before the electoral
colleges met had declared that he wished his
friend Adams to take precedence of him. Mr.
Schouer deems it not unlikely that he hoped
to detach his old Revolutionary ally from the
British wing Of the Federalists by aggravating
his secret resentment against Hamilton. 1t Is
suggested that. in his new part OF Republican
leader. Jefferson. although always sincere and
consistent in his politics. developed something
more than skill and tact for organizng-an
adroitness rather. and an artful cajolery such
| as partly. though by no means fully. justi-
fled the reputation for discrimination which he
presently acquired among political enemies
With tranquil good humor he felicitated him
self on his escape from the highest honor
while Federalists like Fisher Ames. who de-
plored the folly OF u constitutional provision
which placed the chief OF n rival party where
he would incur no responsibility. predicted
| with unerr!ng foresight that President and
| Vice President would now for four years jostle
| each other like two suns in the meridian. and
| then tho Vice would be first John Adams
| himself seems to have entered upon the Presi-
| dency with a corresponding disposition to con-
ciate his distinguished rival. At that juno
| ture the relations OF the United States with
France had reached point OF extreme ten
sion. and an extraordinary commission was
to be sent at once to Paris in last effort to
propitiate the Directory. Adams. before ask
ing the advice OF his Cabinet, preached his
plans freely to Jefferson. and. after expressing
the wish that the Vice President himself might
serve upon this democratic errand-whch
DOtT. HOWoNoT. cOuCluutu very uulcAlJ "oulu
be unbecoming an officer Of the second
dignity-he asked Jefferson to find out whether
Madison could be induced to become ono Of
the three ENJOYS jefferson consulted Madi-
son. who declined, as he himself had ex pected:
and as for Adams. he found the opposition to
Republican appointment 80 strong among his
Cabinet advisers. who were q legacy from
Washington's Administration. that he dropped
the idea and met Jefferson with embarrassing
EXCUSES on the next opportunity. From that
time forward the Vice President was never
consulted upon the plans OF this Administra-
ton. John Adams in the last stage OF the next
Presidential contest. offended Jefferson by his
refusal to frown down the Vaccinations OF tho
Federalists in Congress, who when the choice
OF President fell to tho House Of Representa-
tiyes. wcre disposed to select Burr instead of
Jefferson. At this juncture Adams and JEFF
ferson parted in anger. ard the breach
was further widened when the outgo-
ing President proceeded TO nj all the
Offices lie could possibly lay hands upon for
the advantage Of his party. The principle