The times., 1897-06-27
Looking Backward.


distinguished gentlemen made pilgrimage
TO Monticello, the old home OF Thomas
jefferson, one OF the greatest among the
fathers OF the Republic. Members Of the
party mostly were alse wealthy members
OF that important body vario1ay known to
fame as 1.-THE best club In America, AMI as
the Senate OF the United States. Sotae OF
them, no doubt. had personal histories,
which reader ed it the more agreeable TO pay
homage at the shrine of true American
greatness combined with Democratic sim
pitcity and personal integrity; qualities
which they may have felt they fully shared
with the departed giant
We do not now recall the personnel Of the
pilgrimage, but we know that there are, or
In modern times have been, Senators
country hes produced remarkable If no:
always the same results. Some have been
strikingly like jefferson, IN their abnega-
ticn OF self, In their Spartan abstention from
every financial, commercial or otherwise
materially adventurous entanglement that
might, or might seem to, affect their 1udg-
ment or action as TO the legislative interests
OF the country. Some, perhaps, with mo
tlyes equally honorable, have continued In
the active prosecution OF business enter
prises susceptible OF huge benefit from
friendly legislation, and have evinced the
highest conception of acqutsitive comme scial
spirit In their public conduct.
sssH others viii live in history as shin
ing examples Of genius In the field OF
personal economy. We think one or two
instances VIII be remembered, wherein
worthy, self-made, young statesmen have
come TO the Senate very poor in every
thing but eloquence, ability. and reI,uta-
tion: who have not been known to be
engaged in commerce, industry, or specula-
tion; but who, through the practice OF
q rigid frugality, combined with the ex-
ercise of liberal hospitality, after a long
and distinguished career have been able
to leave the Senate as multinillionaires.
cordance with the standards and ethics
OF his school OF American statesrnen-onIy
the first class OF Senators above referred
TO would have been possible. In this
connection both his views and his ex-
ample are interesting In a letter dated
March 1S, 1893, and addressed TO per-
sonal friend, he wrote: ''When I first
entered on the stage of public life inow
twenty-four years ago), I came to reso-
luton never co engage, while In public
office, in any kind OF enterprise for the
improvement of my fortune, nor to wear
any other character than that of farmer.
I have never departed from 1t in single
instance; and I have in multiplied in
stances found myself happy In being
able to decide and to act as a public
servant clear OF all interest, In the
multiforIn questions that have arisen,
wherein 1 have seen others embarrassed
anu DidStu Dy udNlaB ROt UUelDSSlFeS III 10
a more interested situation. Thus, have
thought myself richer In contentment
than / should have been with any increase
Of fortune Certainly I should have been
rnuch Weather had / remained In that
private condition which renders It law
fui and even Iaudable to use proper ef-
forts to better It. However, my public
career is now closing. and I win go
through on the principle on which 1
have hith erto acted"
No matter how grand and pure such
sentiments and such an example may ap-
pear after the lapse of more than a :,en-
fury, we are really afraid that there are
statesmen OF the present generation who
would look upon them as obsolete, and not
adapted to the conditions OF the present
day. And, seriously, there may be some
thing worthy OF attention in such q view.
At least we may feel sure that, with
a Congress fan Of Thomas Jeffersons. the
suppression Of the House OF Representa-.
tives aud the repeated violation and de-
fiance of the Constitution by its Auto
crat would be impossible; while combi-
nation Of gold and bond syndicates with
few enormous trusts and monopolies