Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-11-07
VEST ON JEFFERSON.
g Unveils . Bust OF the Great
Statesman.


- Nnc1 Delivers IN Address ON the Life
Lebors Of tho Founder OF Democ-
rAcy-An Excsneas Likeness Of
the Great vlrRinian.
= nronze statue of Thomas jefferson
vas unveiled before the members of
ne democratic club that bears his
name IN St Louis few nights ago.
This club is composed of prominent
democrats, and Senator George G.
Vest unveiled the bust, and then de-
Avered an address on the Life
ma Labors of jefferson, whose
very sentence brought from
rs audience cheers which made the
alters ring. The bust is an excellent
peece OF sculpture in bronze. the work
g BENZ. Harvey, young artist of st.
louis. It has been pronounced an ex-
eetient likeness of the father of the
oemocratic party.
6entiemen Of the Jefferson club, !" he began.
save discharged with great pleasure the
0uty which your kindness has assigned me,
~ We can now look upon the features of the
e.Atesman to whose genius and prophetic fore
elent We owe the acquisition to our country of
Soe sol upon which this city stands. tCheers.l
II.
0mong the papers found after his death was q
Euoe sketch In Ink of an obelisk, eight feet in
oe1gnfs made of granite, and with this inscrip-
taon to be placed upon 1t: Here was buried
1nomas Jefferson. the author of the Declare
uon OF independence, Of the statute of Vir-
EInla Tor religious freedom, and father OF the
university of Virginia." It is most signif-
cant epftaph. and worthy of him who wrote it.
JEFFERSON had been a member of the Virginia
mouse OF burgesSeS, and of the continental
france, secretary Of state, vice-president, and
twice president of the United States. But
none OF these titles or honors appear upon the
STONE that marks his grave During his whole
ane ne was averse to showing ostentation and
parade.
This stern old democrat wanted not living
OK dead, the target and trappings of heraldic
pomp. the tinsel Of false glory. He preferred
10 be remembered for his declaration of equal
rights TO all, TOR his championship of human
liberty. religious freedom and universal educa-
uon. 1t has been said by the enemies of JEFF
ferson that he was communist and leyeler,
taat he appealed to the prejudices of the
poor and uneducated against the wealthy
and the learned. jefferson was by
birth, lineage, education and association
an aristocrat He was born land and slave
owner, and had in his veins the blue blood of
back in England and Scotland, as to which,
SAID JEFFERSON, let those give credit who may
see proper to do So. He was educated at the
royal college OF William and Mary, an enstitu-
tion endo wed by royalty. and when at that in
stftutlon, In the old town of Williamsburg, was
the colony. He was fond Of music. sculpture e,
painting: he was Latin. Greek and French
scholar while in philosoph by and the higher
mathematics he stood without peer among
public men. He had everything TO take him
away from the common people. as they were
snsn called and everything to bring him into
claimed by inheritance monopoly of wealth
and culture.
New Virginia was type Of the character
OF old England The rakish cavaliers who had
fought under Prince Rupert were reproduced
In the province and to the law of primogeni-
ture and entail. and the union Of chu CHI and
state. was added the curse OF African slavery,
To buy more niggers, to raise more tobacco to
receive greater income to be sQuand cred in
riotous living-this seemed to be the chief end
Of the Virginia gentleman. Thomas Jefferson
stepped into the arena of active life In
spite OF evil associations and such surround
ipgs. He rose above environments; he looked
beyond the narrow horizon of Virginia: he saw
the world grooming and trembling under civil
and religious despotfsm; the poor and ignorant
oppressed in behalf OF the rich and great; he
hand to justify oppression and wrong. The
world was radiated with the flames of the fire
and the faggot to make men give up their con-
8cientfous belief to the dominant church.
Thomas Jefferson was the friend of the
people. He labored In behalf of civil and re-
ngious liberty; and. SO long as life endured he
were born to bear the saddle in order that the
other third. booted and spurred. could ride
them. In his sight all men were equal and mis-
great heart and brain throbbed In behalf of the
multitude whose hands had been lifted up for
ages TO the stars above them. and who had
give relief against the wrongs of men. Thomas
Jefferson. all honor to his glorious name was.
truth which he crystallized in the Declaration
OF Independence-that all governments derive
their just powers from the consent of the gov
erned.
believing this he lived, believing this he
died. and tonight he leaves us the memory of
his great name and the glorious legacy of his
eternal principles.
''In the year 17e9 Jefferson entered public life
rs q member Of the house of burgesses of Vir-
ginia from his native county of Albemarle. His
FIRST act was to introduce a bill for the gradual
emancipation of African slaves. He was then
. years old, and he knew he was confronted
with the overwhelming opposition of greed
ayarice and prejudice The bill met with Sc.
rfous opposition from the beginning, and was
Overwhelmingly defeated.
Fifty years afterwards, Jefferson, in speak.
ang of this incident. said that the public mirs
Of Virginia at that time was not prepared 70,
It now. But, he added, it must be prepared, OF
worse will follow"
Nothing is more surely written in the bool
can race must be emancipated. and nothin.
else is truer, too, than that emancfpated the,
can not live with whites under the same gov
ernmenE
eThe first part Of this proposition has bee,
verified by tears and blood and anger m,
fombstones that now mark in the mellow
moonlight the hillsides of north and south at
latter part Of the prediction. it rests In the
womb Of time We can not lift the veil; ",
only know that the rule Of the survival Of tn,
6ttest applies to nations and races as well a,
20 Individuals; and 1t is. under God, with tn,
negro himself to say whether he can rise to tn,
high duties and responsibilities OF American
ottixenship."
Senator Vest then traced the caree,
of the subject of his euloey and tn.
events with which his name is asso
ciated, dwelling especially upon tn,
opposition which he. as well as tn,
state of Virginia, had offered to slay
cry, and on the fact that states Xix,
Massachusetts, favored it in those earl,
DAYS. He then spoke of his retirement
from public life, and concluded:
AAfter forty-four years Of public life. JefYer
aon went back to his home in Virginia to re-
sumo that labor Of love. the dream of his life
10 establish the University of Virginia He de
voted all his talents to this undertaking. Z,
fl.fs great university, which Is a living films
eratiop Of the genius and teachings of Letter
eon.
at Is simple collection Of schools: there 4
M president. but member OF the faculty act
rs chairman Of the board. No student Is re
iects his sSn course OF study It being the in
eeutfou OF the founder that an appeal should b,
made t. the conscience and manhood of tn,
stude,s<. and not TO coercion.
..p.t 5ece,senhas left greater legacy an,
..,..,-,,cteS = greater and more endurfn