The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-16
SIBLEY WAS ELOQUENT.
His Jefersonian Banquet Speech is
the Talk of WashinPton.


the Talk of Washington.
Washington, April 16.-The speech de-
Hvered by ex-Congressman Joseph G.
Sibley at the Jefferson banquet has
become the talk of the town.
Mr.. Sibley is not an original Demo-
crat. He started in life as a Republi-
can, but broke away from the party
years ago. When he first came tG
congress he was the nominee of the
Peoples party, the Prohibitionists and
the Democrats. Evidently he has alb
sorbed his Democracy. He is a man of
large wealth, an extensive farmer and
is engaged in many important manu-
featuring enterprises. Mr. Solely said:
1t IS national misfortune that no
fitting biography of Thomas Jefferson
has ever been written. OF those es-
saying the task, most have stood so
near as to lose the harmonious proper
lions of so grand a character. Others
were animated largely by the partisan
rancors of the day in which they wrote
The material for such a biography is
abundant. The nine volumes of his
own writings are an unfailing source
OF fact and suggestion, and it remains
for some discerning brain and liberty
loving soul to portray the real life and
true character of this matchless man,
this peerless patriot. But if no future
historian shall essay the task, the gen
erations yet unborn shall know him:
and 50 long as time shall endure, so
long as love for liberty survives, in
all coming ages, men will turn to that
immortal Declaration of Independence
the product of his own great brain and
heart, and shall feel their pulses
quicken, and realize that the author
was one inspired with power from on
high. Had his life work closed with
this production he would still have for
ever ranked with the mightiest of
earth.
In long ages past One had walked
beneath the Syrian sky who had taught
that God was our common father and
that all men were brothers. He said
that he who had fallen among thieves
and was sorely wounded was our neigh
Dor, and he taught US that our duty
was not alone to succor, but to love
that neighbOr. He condemned the ex-
tOrtiOners. He uttered woes to them
who devoured widows houses and for
appearances made long prayers. He
taught that when we fed the hungry
and clothed the naked we ministered
even unto the Son of God himself.
''These truths were combatted; aye,
at times seemed almost destroyed; yet
they grew and developed for nearly
1900 years, until Thomas Jefferson.
catching the keynote of that mission
from the cradle to the cross. gathered
up those truths, so misunderstood and
misapplied,' and for the first time in the
worlds history bound them into a code
of political ethics.
Claiming to be his followers, let US
present his life as an example in states
manShip, and seek more and more to
incuIcate the truths he taught and
more and more to incorporate them as
living stones in all temples dedicated
to human liberty.
'Reaffirming tonight our acceptance
of his principles and pledging our sa.-
cred honor to their maintenance, we lay
them as foundation stones in the re-
establishment of a Democracy which
shall be great and grand enough to
shelter all Inc good and true of the ma
ton, regardless of sectional boundaries,
business pursuits, cline, creed or past
party affiliations, so periodically ami
mated, so faithful in performance as
to be revered and defended by all who
love justice and hated and attacked by
those alone who love darkness rather
than light, because their deeds are
evil.
ION the day of his death Thomas JEFF
ferson called his loved ones about his
bedside and spoke these last words:
:" I have done for my country and for
al mankind all that [ could do, and 1
now resign my soul without fear to my
Cod
Are we prepared to take up his work
in such a spirit, so to shape our lives,
private and public, as to permit our
last words to be an echo of his own?
Dare we again lift high the standards
he erected? If SO, we shall go forth
as fair as the moon, as bright as the
sun and as terrible as an army with
baners.' "
There was great applause when Mr..
Sibley concluded, and immense cheer
ing when some one called for cheers
for the next vice president of the Unit
ed States.