The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-04-13

the very lew cnaIao'ois 4" "'''N''
tainly in American history whose fame
has increased with the lapse OF time
Ii is now close upon three quarters OF
century since he was laid to rest at
Monticello, and yet veneration for his
patriotism and public virtues, and the
influence and power of his political
principles are broader and deeper ana
stronger today than they were at TIE
hour of his death. In this respect there
is no other American TO be compared
with him, with the sole exception ct
Washington. With Washington no
other is ever to be compared forof> him
it may be said, as was said of the great
patriot poet of England, that he was
like q star. and dwelt apart. There
are but two tombs on this continent
that are the objects Of continuous a"O
increasing pilgrimsges by patriots and
by friends of free government. These
tombs are at Mt Vernon and at Monti-
cello 1t may be, and indeed is, that
to the former the worshippers of disin-
terested patriotism are more wont to
repair but the latter is the special
shrine of the students and enthusiasts
in behalf of popular rights and free
Democratic institutions.
From the first establishment Of the
government under the federal constitu-
ton the great majority of the people
have been divided into two political
parties, the lines Of separation being q
strict construction, on the one hand,
and liberal construction, on the other,
Of the instrument which constitutes the
fundamental law of the land. The party
which contends for a strict construction
of the constitution has for more than
bundled years taken for its apostle the
Sage of Monticello; and at this hour,
the millions throughout the. length and
breadth of the land who profess special
confidence in the capacity Of the peo-
pie for self government are vindicating
their title to be considered genuine
Democrats by tracing their creeds 70
the political principles and declarations
and public acts of Thomas Jefferson.
They define themselves TO be "Jetfer-
sonian Democrats " On the evening
of this, the anniversary Of his birth,
banquets will be held in every part OF
the country to commemorate his viz
lures. and applaud the political philos-
ophy Of which he was the founder and
exponent
There has been a steadily increasing
recognition of his claim to clearer
prophetic dlscernment of the true
principles of free government and con-
stitutional liberty, and popular rights.
than was possessed by any Of the illus
trious fathers and founders Of the re-
public
In June l776 the Virginia Conven-
tion adopted constitution of govern
ment that was the first severance on
the continent of the political ties
which bound the colonies to the mother
country. Mr.. jefferson was then a
member Of the Continental Congress
but he sent from Philadelphia, by the
hands Of Mr. Wythe, the preamble to this
Virginia Constitution, in which pre-
amble he announced the Identical prin-
ciples which he three weeks later en-
bodied in the Declaration of lndepen-
dence. And eleven years later, when
minister to France he wrote to Mr.. Mad
ison brief description of the character
of government which the constitutional
convention Of 1887 ought to establish
and this description is brief outline
of the federal union actually PROFOUND
ed by that immortal body and ratified
by the thirteen States
In this our day we hear a great deal
about popular government, and conf
dence in the intelligence and patriot
ism Of the masses. We do not always
accord sincerity TO these LOUD pro1es'
sions Of confidence in the people. But
with Mr.. jefferson there was a pro-
found, unhesitating, absolute belief IN
the virtue of the people, and their ca
pacity for self-government He was
the soul of sincerity, the incarnation
of earnest conviction and after ne had
passed into the seclusion of old age.
and into retirement from the active
competitions and rivalries of earthly
he was still the great friend
and advocate of the people. At Month
cello, lifted above the far-spreadlng
landscape Of the surrounding world,
even as his great intellect was lifted
above that of his fellowmen, an old man