New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-18

lin nor profound financier Ike Hamilton nor
so creative a jurist as Marshall nor so resource
full in national distress as Robert MOTIFS nor -
sanely lf-poised as Washington But ne was n"
expert in science. he was capable OF uhdelsla"u-
ing Hamilton--not without animosity, however
n. was a learned lawyer and he more clear
" than ANYBODY else in his line the tendencies
latent in American political evolution. His man
ner Of cul;ivating the plain people seemed 20
many in his day a sort of demagogy FeHhapS'
even now his memory cannot be cleared WhoiS
of this inlputation. Mr. Schouer sklItu'lE SUI
ems the offence if it BE- such. by attrlDuuhs II 10
"a quick and ready tact. which, approaching any
collision of n purpose with his own, set itself 20
work to accomplish the desired end without
wounding. and. wherever his authority justified,
without discussion" Contrasting this plausible
method with the impetuosity of John Adams, ne
adds that this trait in Jefferson which was
mart of his nature, has been COMPOUNDED some
times by his persona, enemies with that ar'lui
duplicity. associated peculiarly with French d.
nlomecv which covers up intrigue with polite
manners-as though that too. as well as MS
nolitics and religion were imbibed abroad" JET
earson WAS essentially a writer. not a talker'
Men who do not talk we'll are forced to employ
more cautious means in dealing with others IMAM
,hose who have the gift Of speech. 1t is possible
that some OF Jeffersons traditional syness may
have been due TO this popularity. certainly
there is no lack Of plainness or OF courage IN MS
published writings, not even when he uaNeiScu
the prejudices of people. as on the queS''o'
of slavery in Virginia; or their CONVICTIONS DIS
when he went out Of his way to have ming at
the Deity, when he framed law when de-
stroved the system of entail in Virginia. when
ne DISPUTED the scientific conclusions of Button
mr. nenned the Declaration of Independence but
tho French Count de Moustier would certainly
have thought il a mark Of cunning II ne mao
known that the paragraph added IN ciPHe' os
jefferson 10 the letter introducing him 10 Mau-
json contained these words De Mous'e' i
remarkably communicative. With adToitness ne
NAV be pumped Of anything. His openness Is
from character net from ahectaton. An ih"-
macy with him may on this account De po'''-
ically valuable" There is really touch "a
humor in such an addendum to what is on the
whole. as given by Mr.. Ford. a highly comp.i-
mentary letter.
Mr. Ford's volumes have not however 'e"c"eu
tn. period OF bitter conflict with Hamilton III
which most OF the things occurred that gave Jel-
rarson his reputation for duplicty In the letters
that belong to the period between ISL and lS' Is
n be found the autobiography Of the man from
einia in war tines to his successful career as
minister :, France In calling his ministry sue
cessful one must specify He came after FRANK
y, and ne had no such great tasks to perform
as had fallen to his predecessor. In his CONNER
c,,l vaccinations he did not accomplish all mat
no a,n,cd 10 do. But he became a considerable
force I'm the intellectual and social life Of Pans
and was reckoned upon, though vainly, as 'he
even, proved to aiG in settling the political dis
nutcs that agtated France on the eve OF ule
Revolution His success was personal ra'he'
than official His rank a scholar and man OF
science was recognized. and II was IN France
that his most important book, the Notes on
Virginia" first the light the history %
this work illustrates some of his characteristics
botb as an investigator and as politician. He
seen,s 70 have cared more for gathering material
than for putting 1t into literary shape some eS-
ternal demand was required TO set him upon 'he
final task In the present case the occasion WAS
furnished by the request OF an agent OF FRANCE
in America for information. Prominent men III
all the States had similar questions SUBMITTED 10
them but jefferson alone was prepared to make
an elaborate answer. He had been In the haDi'
as he said. of putting in writing whatever ne
learned about his State, which in those days
claimed a large share OF the continent His let
ditc reveal the same habit in respect to other
toncs besides Virginian history topography and
natural and social phenomena. His legal learn
ing was gathered IN the same painstaking iash-
ion and his references certainly have pedantc
look at times Thus he showed at all times the
originality OF an acute and trained observer. Dut
never that Of profound thinker. one may
speculate suggestively on the results that "ouIu
have followed. II IL had been his part instead o,
Marshalrs 10 create the tradition OF the Ch'ed
States Supreme Court But this very cultivated
faculty Of observation made Jefferson sensitive
10 the currents OF popular feeling. his letters
show over and over again how delicate ana ac-
curate that sense was in him. He has been calIed
the father OF a party but he such only be-
cause he OWNED before any one else the lines OF
division among the people and the points where
The weight of majorities would fall for many
wears 10 come. The element Of the population
which he seems never TO have been sure OF was
the one to which he was nearest allied. lie could
claim by his mothers right place among the
old colonial arstocracy Of Virginia. but ne could
not count the members Of that rather exclusive
social organism among his supporters. His re-
vision Of the laws OF the State cause Of
bitterness Yet he showed in the matter OF the
"Notes on Virginia" that he meant not to offend
the group OF great idhuHoiueiS' ''c "o' "''''0''
out his views on slavery with considerable free
dom. To agent OF the french nation WHICH
was already meddling with the rights Of man,
the author OF the Declaration OF independence
could do no less But he hesitated about the pub
LEGATION OF the book on account Of these remarks
FRS, he seems to have given out few copies IN
writing Then he thought Of an edition for prl-
yate distribution: but IL not until he reached
I,a rjs that he carried Aut his plan A ''hreng
translator" by attempting 10 steal the work
forced him to consent to popular edition in
French. and the publication OF the original in
London became almost matter OF course AS
he explained. his scluples were due only to what
he wrn.e ahnut slaNcry and about the COnstltu-