The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-17

servitors of the common veal
But one distinction is Jefferson's and
JefFerson's alone She founded a party.
not for d day, but for an time q party
which has survived changing seasons
and passing generations, the storms OF
peace, and the storms of war; he found
ed party and put into its heart prin-
ciple, and put upon it's lips a creed, and
party principle and creed are alike im-
Perishable.
"Other parties come and go,
The eternal surge OF time and tide
rolls on,
And bears affair their bubbles
Federalists, Wings, Know Nothings,
and what-not; their names even ring
strangely on our ears, and we think OF
them as we think of the stuffed skins
OF species that have vanished from the
earth.
But Democracy came with Jefferson,
and it came to stay. The Republic is
the government of party and party is
the rule Of partisans. While the Re-
public Of Washington lasts the party
Of jefferson viii last, and you, parti-
sans of Democracy, are in your place
at this hallowed spot, where lived and
died the immortal Democrat Thomas
Jefferson. Seer, sage, hero, prophet,
Orator that never made a speech, yet
whose words are spoken by the myriad
tongues of free men; eOnquerOr that
never drew q sword, yet founded an
empire Of the mind that far outstretehes
the realms of Gar and Alexander; man
of the people and for the people-we,
thy people, have come to do homage to
thy dust, and here we VOW that we will
guard thy work, and so far as in us lies
see to it that the cause Of the people
shall live and not perish.
Yes, Thomas jefferson indeed lives
in the independence of his country. In
the rounded domain, the ocean-washed
and sentinelled under the mighty can
opy of stars that stretches from the
delta of the Mississippi to the shores
of the Columbia and the Golden Gate;
in the civil and religious freedom which
he clad with iron; in the free schools
which make dull earth illuminant with
the light of knowledge; in the great
university, a flowing light fountain,
which pOurs down its mountain side
the phosporescent riIIs that fed those
schools, and, percolating into every
home and heart, nourishes a genial
lamp BY every hearthstone. But it is in
the living militant Democracy that JEFF
fersOn lives incarnate. lit is in faithful
Democrats, who, untempted by wealth,
interrupted by Office, unintimidated
by power, undismayed by reverses, ana
unconquerored by defeat, who are as
ready for their work as the minute men
OF the Revolution, who fly the defiant
flag, Don't tread on me-; it is in these
living witnesses whose faces shine with
the quickenng spirit that is in them
that Thomas jefferson lives i'm the
flesh, and that he is ready to do battle
for the peoples cause.
What boots it that 7 recite to you
the honors heaped upon him by CRATE
full people. They were but their gifts
their benefactors, the labels Of his la
bors. his burdens and his cares. How
paltry seems that long catalogue of
official designations compared to what
he was in himself-a man God gifted
and God armed for the battle of right
against wrOng-compare TO what he
did for the people; his gifts to them.
4 justice of the peace for this county,
legislator Of his State, councillor Of
its Governor, reyiser Of it's Code, mem
Der of the Continental Congress, Gov
ernor Of Virginia, Minister to France,
Secretary of State, Vice-President Of
the United States, twice President of
the United States. Lofty and shining
titles these, but he might have worn
one and all Of these medalsand ribbons,
and died without leaving behind him a
human heaIt to bless God that he had
lived.
But there is not heart that loves |
humanity and thrills with noble rage |
for right and truth and Justice; there |
is not patriot who loves his country; |
there Is not a people upon the earth |
who are weary and heavy laden under |
the burdens of oppression; there is not |
a chancellor who loves equity; there is |
not a devotee who bows his head in free |
worship of Maker; there is not an 1
ingenious student by the midnight /
lamp; there is not a toiler Of the land |
or sea; yea, there is not an astronomer
who reads the stars, nor a humble far
ner in his cabin, nor a free man any l
where who treads the earth with the
spirit Of the free, who does not bless
God that Thomas Jefferson lived, and
that his life goes marching ON.
What did Jefferson do for the people |
Rather, what did he not do? He was
one Of them; he loved them; he trust
ed them; he guided them; he cheerad
them; hecomforted them; he led them;
be was true 10 them.
1880 v~sr