New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-20
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
THE LAST VOLUME IN THE COLLECTED
EDITION OF HIS PAPERS.


Collected and Edited by Paul Leicester forn'
Volume X islS-is2s Octave, PIP Xxx 40 u r.
Putnams Sons.
The letters comprised in this tenth volume OF
Mr. Ford,s edition OF Jefrersons works were
written during the last ten years OF the great
s,stesman's life. They touch upon great va
riety OF topics, from the details OF domestic ar
fairs TO problems OF craftsmanship and religion
and reveal a mind active and vigorous to the
last Through them breathes the spirit or dig
piaed renose which BELTS the retired sage, ana
tbev abound in references TO the weakness Oh
aee and complete withdrawal from pubic al
fairs hut II is easy TO see that the writer
watched the progress OF events with an inter-
&C, as keen as that Of any Of the actors IN the
politicai drama. And. In reality. there was sun
no more potent political influence than that
which emanated from the seclusion OF Month
cello.
To the student OF American history and III
particular Of the political ideas IN "hlch the
Democratic party originated. some OF THESE let
ters are among the most suggestive OF Je"ei-
sons writings In fact. one has but 10 run oNe'
the list of topics which Mr.. Ford has incor-
narrated in his table Of contents to see how rich
this volume is in reflections upon pretty nearly
The whole range Of political and economic ques-
of the Nations existence. Not few OF thefn'
., course are excellent illustrations Of Jeffer-
son's weaknesses rather than OF his strengthen
tho narrowness Of his political vision; but very
many of them on the other hand are surchareeu
with wisdom. while all are filled with the pur-
est patriotism and an intense love OF ireeooiii.
The letters furnish also an insight mere anu
there into more private matters whch are Vi
interest 10 the student OF Jeffersons personal
ity No one, for example. can read that OF Oc-
tober r. 1923, 10 John Adams without Ieeiihs
the innate nobility and sincerity OF the writer
And the same is true Of HIS occasional refer-
ences to his religious beliefs. 1t rs true 'ha'
when "priests'-a term in which he inciudeu'
apparently all clergymen indiscriminatey es-
pecially those who had attacked ms own re-
ngious vews-are mentioned he shows uhuue
asperity. and drops. indeed, his dignihed s'Ele
for that Of the common scold. you may judge
he wrote to Horatio Gates Spofford that 1 am
not afraid Of priests They have tried upon NE
ALL their various batteries of pious whining
hypocritical canting, lying and slandering WITH
out being able to give me one moment Of pain
have contemplated their order from the Masl
Of the East to the Saints Of the West and
have found no difference of character, but OF
more or less caution, in proportion to their in
formation or ignorance Of those on whom their
interested duperies were to he played of!
However. II is clear that his quarrel was only
with what he regarded as bigotry ana the
tyranny OF ecclesiasticism. and that for the run
damental religious sentiments and the person
of the founder Of Christianity his reverence
was sincere and deep. Il am he declared 10
Charles Thompson. "a real Christian; that Is 10
say disciple Of the doctrines of Jesus-Very
different from the Platonsts. who call me inidel
and themselves Christians and preachers or the
Gospel while they draw all their characteristic
dogmas from what its author never said nor
saw" Here. as everywhere else, freedom was
the one thing he insisted upon and tyranny
the one thing that he loathed. OF the excellence
~ Mr. Ford's editing it is unnecessary to speak