The Washington times., 1894-04-08
JEFFERSoN's BIRTHDAY.
IAN open letter to Senator Voorhees,.

Hon. ID. W. VOORHEES,, u. 5. Senate:
DEAR SIR: 1t was with much pleasure that
/ listened to the closing part ofyour very able
and timely speech of April on the tariff and
income tax. / also heard with unbounded
satisfaction your magnificent mention of one
of our greatest of statesmen, Thomas Jeffer-
son. in the following words:
Sir, this is the birthday of Thomas jefferson.
One hundred and fifty years ago today he came
into the world the greatest emancipator OF
thought, philosopher of liberty, and teacher OF
natural rights of man ever known in human
history. The blows he struck for freedom,
justice, and equality in government are yet re-
sounding throughout the earth, and they Will
never cease TO be heard until the last shackle of
privilege and tyranny is broken Ten days be-
fore his soul took flight from his mountain home
he wrote his parting words TO his own country
men and to all the races of mankind. With this
great diving message before u.s. and in its spirit,
we axe new courage and 60 on with our work
"All eyes are open, or opening" he said. "to the
rights OF man The general spread of the light
OF science has already laid open to every view
the palpabie truth, that the mass OF mankind
has not been born with the saddles on their
backs, nor favored few booted and spurred,
ready TO ride them legitimately by the grace OF
God" Hail, mighty message, and hail its speedy
and certain fulfllment All hail the counsels of
Thomas Jefferson in this hour of caste based on
wealth, OF privilege granted by law, and of mo-
nopoly fastened ON the slavery of labori Zap
plause in the galleriesl
Now. my dear sir, believing that so appreci-
ative and magnificent statement of historic
truth should not be tinctured with the least
shade OF error, l call attention to the fact
that Thomas Jefferson was not born on the
day which we now call the second day OF
April. but eleven days later.
/ have before me letter written by Abra-
ham Lincoln to a committee of gentlemen in
Boston. beginning as follows:
sPNGFIELD, Ill, April g. 1859
GENTLEMEN: Your kind note, inviting me to at
lend festival in Boston on the 18th inst, in
~ day of Jatf. txya,.
July received. My engagements are such that
cannot attend, etc. Now the facts OF the case
Ere these: Jefferson was born April 2, 1913, old
style, or April IS, 1913, new style
The books usually follow the old style April
2 as 10 birth, but not as to his death July ~.
lie died July 4. 1926, new style So his true age
was eleven days less than the old style birthday
would indicate.
Then, to state his age correctly, we should
state the dates of his death and birth in the same
-ftvle or calendar
That is, April 10. new style. and July T. new
style, April p old style, and June 23 old style
10 state il the usual way is 10 mix the Julian
and Gregorian calendars, and TO perpetuate an
error of eleven days as to his age.
Is 40 one would be willing TO sacrifice the sa-
cred and beautiful historic coincidence of the
deaths of Thomas jefferson and John Adams on
the anniversary of American Independence, it
would seem that April 13 for JeiIelson's birth
day would be the better date, as stated in Mr.
lincolns letter, and it would posses the great
merit OF being the exact truth.
George Washington was born February II, old
We celebrate the new style date February
22) and thus avoid all error 10 age. Then why
not celebrate the new style date april 1S) for
Mr.. Jefferson as mentioned by Ny. Lincoln and
the Bostonians and thus avoid mixing cal
endars md perpetuating error of eleven days
in Mr.. Jefiersons age? The change from the old
style tJulian Calendar) to the new style (Grego-
rian Calendnr) was by Engl sh statute in 175l
To show the Importance of chronological ac-
curacy in historic matters like this, beg 10 call
your attention TO the following consideration In
your speech of April ., you say:
''sir. this is the birthday of Thomas jefferson
One hundred and fifty-one years ago to-day he
came into the world the greatest emancipator of
thought. philosopher of lihertyand teacher of the
natural rights of man ever known in human his
tory
Now, I beg to say that: zone hundred and
Gfty-one years prior 10 the date of your speech.
the results Of the natal day OF Thomas Jefferson
We're in the future, and were utterly unknown.
il was not then known whether the world was TO
have d thomas Jefferson, capable of writing the
declaration OF independence, and destined TO
place MS name high up among the famous men
of history: or, only Miss Fanny jefferson, TO be
cassed politically by American law, among
Idiots, lunatics, and criminals, as mere female
thing, taxable and hangable under statutes
which she was to have no voice in framing This
consideration, in my mind is very important
now desire to say. in closing, that your high
appreciation of Mr.. Jefferson reminds me of the
closing paragraph over Mr. LIncoln's name in
the letter before me. Mr. Lincoln said:
''All honor 10 Jenerson-to the man who in
the concrete pressure OF struggle for national
independence by single people, had the cool
ness, forecast, and capacity, TO introduce into a
merely revolutionary document an abstract
truth, applicable to all men and to all times,
and so to emtaln IL there that to-day and in
all coming daye il shall be rebuke and stum-
bling block 10 the harbingers of reappearing
tyranny and. oppression Your obedient
servant A. LINCOLN"
place this as a companion piece to your
fine oratorial statement when the dscrepency
of dates has been reconeied. Yours. respect
fully, JOHN DAVIS