New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-18
LITERARY NOTES.

letter written hundred years ago by
Thomas Jefferson is printed in the current num-
Der Of THE American Historical Review. IL
shows what he thought about the two political
parties then recently formed:
Philadelphia, February IL. lbs
Sir I have duly received yours OF the -oti,
Tit mentioning that il had been comm
IN Won that in a conversation in Francis hotei
(where | LODGE had spoken or you as OF LOT!
politics. and you make inquiry as 10 'he lac.
and the idea TO be conveyed" l shall answer
Won with frankness 1t is we'll understood
that two political Sects have arisen WITHIN the
L s. the one believing that the executive Is .i,e
branch of our government which the most Ieeus
euDnort. .he other that like the analogous
branch in the English Government, IT Is alreaay
too strong for the republican parts OF 'he Coi-
stitution: and therefore in equivocal cases lhes
incline TO the legislative powers: the iorlhei VI
these are called federalists. sometimes arIs.o-
Gratis or monocrats. and sometimes tories aite'
the corresponding sect in the EheIsn o'T ,a,tnr
ment of exactly the same definition; the az
are stiled republicans wings. 1acopihs' ANA
chsts disorganizers &C. these terms arr ~
familiar use with most persons ana "nl.n
those NJ the first class, used on the occasion
alluded 70 do not particularly remember the!
are all we'll understood to designate persons 80. -"
are for STRENGTHENING the executive ia'nei -,
tho Legislative branches Of the Government
, w. ehob,v used the last OF those terms. and
Tor these reasons: both parties claim 10 oe ~
eralists and republicans. ana prheNe 49,
truth as to the great mass OF them 'hese app
-, ~ a ,herefore designate neither exclusively:
ord all the others are ISLANDERS. except mos A., vi
whig and tory which alone characterize ',e ho,o
tinguishing principles or 'he two &c 800 Lnovn
before explained them: as they nave peeN hIio
and named IN England for more IMAM oe".u -
and as they are growing into daiiy us s., -,
with those. whose respect ~, veil nc them
nr,,,ate Judgment in others. as wei as ~, -
Siras docs not permit them 10 use the otheI
terms which either imply against 'he'"se'e' "a
charge others inJuriousiy' ,,. 49,, Sediments
7 remark with real Sensibility inc %" I'm 49,,
~. ostasno YOU are pleased 10 express lor ND
character and do not suner my seii " ,,hIch
they will be essened by any dinertn'c ,tnos
,nay hannen TO exist IN our polltlcai opihio''
80 80, there no the most upright ana cohscleh-
tious characters are on both SIDES OF the ~
ton: and az to myself. can say WIN ~ 49,, 49,,
that nolitical tenets have never taken aWaI '"S
esteem for a moral and good man: on TINS hsau
I have never uttered a word nor enter'al'eu a
thought TO your prejudice ana even 49,, az ads,e
tics 7 could say nothing OF my own khoWieuse
&c Won must be sensible but only from the ~
formation Of others. having understood on uii
ferent occasions. that on public queSuipnS ~
have generally concurred with those VINO We'r
on the Side 81 executive powers: II IN ths
have been msinformed. ! shall with pleasure
correct the error II otherwise. your conviction
Of the Solidity OF your opinions. VIII render IL
satisfactory 10 you that they have not Deeh
mistaken: this 10 the Sentiment when each
side entertains Of It's own opinions ana hei'ne .
( thinks them the Subject OF lmputatioh. am
really sorry that any one should have FOUND
qualification in paining you or myself ny such
a communications the circumstance took place
with myself mess together every day at our
lodgings and was therefore the less guarded;
and do not recollect that there was n person
present but Of our ordinary Society: the occa-
sion too was as clear Of exception. being used
In proof how little OF party Spirit there is In
Virginia and how little II influences public pro-
ceedings there and transient wlthal. that
/ dare say it has not been since thought Of nor
repeated. to any other person than yourself.
with what view Is not for me TO consider
! have thought / owed to your private and
public character this candid declaration. and /
have fear you will mistake the motives which
lead to IT,
The first Of the four quarterly volumes Of the
Encyclopedia Biblica," DR. Cheyne's dictionary
OF the Bible. will be published by the Macmil-
lans next October Seventy of the leading lv-
ing Biblical critics ard scholars among the
contributors 10 the work: and concerning their
labors this announcement has been made:
The primary aim has been to supply a much
felt want by applying TO every detail within
the scope Of a Bible dictionary the most exact