The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-24

ton for primary schools to university,
too far in advance of the age for any
part of America then, bore no fruit on
the unfavorable soil of Virginia, though
Jefferson was to recur to the dream
eagerly in the leisure of his latest years.
IRON this cengenial work Jefferson
F., was called to serve as governor for the
two terms. 1779, 1850. 1t was to be a
distressing period for the state. Virgil
mia had generously drained herself of
men, horses and arms for the distant
continental armies. Now, naked and
defenseless, she was herself cruelty and
repeatedly harried by Arnold and Tar
Teton. Under such conditions the gov
ernor, of course, received much unmer-
tied censure; but, however cool and
courageous, Jefferson certainly lacked
the decisive energy and intuitive in
sight of a commander in chief. and this
part Of his life justly caused him
deep chagrin. At the same time he was
assailed by private griefs. His proper
ty was ruthlessly and wantonly de-
stroyed by British troopers; his only
son, an infant, died just after the fam
lily flight. and SOoI afterward his wife
fell into that long and fatal illness in
which Jefferson nursed her with touch
ing and loving care.
In 1888 Jefferson is again in the con-
greSs Of the confederation. In these
few months ne secured for us our sensi-
bic decimal money notation, al
though his plan for complete metric
system of weights and measures, un-
fortunately. failed then and afterward:
and he had the qualification OF present
ing to congress Virginia's noble cession
of her imperial domain north of the
Ohio. Fifty, too-and the most import
ant event of this second term in con-
gress-it fell TO jefferson to prepare the
first ordinance for the orginZation of
this new national territory, which was
to be the model for the later more ia
nous northwest ordinance of 1857. and,
indeed, for all our subsequent territorial
organization.
Strangely suggestive TO see Jefferson.
soon to be the founder of the great
Democratic party, already in 1854. in
this first attempt to restrict the area
of slavery. anticipating the platform
upon which was to rise the rival Repub-
lican party seventy years later,
Minister to France-Secretary of
State.
The next year he began his residence
at Paris as American minister. French
thought and doctrinaire influence, al
ready strong with him, no doubt now
secured a firmer hold, but his devoted
admiration of France by no means
weakened his patriotism He urged
Monroe TO come to France, because lit
will make you adore your own country,
its soil, climate, equality, liberty. laws,
people and Manners and he predicted
that, though many Europeans would
settle in America, no man living would
see an American seeking a home in
Europe. He watched the early stages
of the French revolution with keenest
interest. and, while irreproachabiy pre-
serving the neutrality of foreign min
lister, he was in private the valued ad.
wiser of Lafayette and other ardent re-
formers, whose impractical plans he
not infrequently helped to moderate.
In 1890 he returned to America and
became Washingtons secretary of
state. The next few years are given to
the incessant contest with Hamilton,
in the cabinet and out of it, Jefferson
was. on the whole. outgensraied at first,
very happily, by the superior organic
ing genius and financial skill of his
adversary, until the Federalists had
had time to accomplish their indispen-
sable consolidating work, but all the
time he was building up with infinite
skill and foresight the new party of
the plain people which was soon TO tri-
umph-equally happily-in his election
to the presidency.
President-The Democratic Revolt
tion-Expansion.
No doubt much chaff mingled with
Jefferson's sounder political doctrine.
His fantastic aversion to titles like
Honorable" and to 'monarchic" cele-
brations of Feb. p Che kept his own
birthday secret: his foolish idea that
all. public debt and legislation should
expire with the enacting generation;
his vicious dread of strong government.
which led him to draw the mischievous
Kentucky resoiutions-all these are to
be regretted. But, after ALL these are
trifing blots upon his wise larger hopes
for mankind and for America as 1.-THE
worlds best hope'-a creative faith
which contrasted so fortunately with