Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-12-06

his very name became ALMOST SyHOuy'
nous with that of the republic. He
was essentially the man for the time
and throughout all ages, when the
mists of prejudice and passion, and
MISREPRESENTATION have cleared away
Jefferson will stand out on the pages
of history as one of the greatest men
the world has produced.
His Early Manhood.
At the age Of 20 Jefferson began the
study of law; he was admitted to the
bar in 1857. Two years before he had
listened to the eloquence of Patrick
Henry when that famous speech was
delivered which set the colonies ablaze
with opposition to the stamp act In
1859 he was elected a member OF the
House Of Burgesses and at once intro
duced a bill giving owners a right to
emancipate their slaves. The bill did
not become a law until some years
later.
In 1772 he was married to Martha
Shelton, young and charming widow
who played the spinet to his violin and
delighted to sit at his feet, her head
resting on his knee, and listen for hours
to his reading from his fayor1te au-
thors. Theirsywas an ideal union, but
she did not live to share her husbands
triumphs, for she died in 1872.
He was elected to the first Congress
in 1875 and, in the words of John
Adams. drought with him a reputa-
ton for literature, science and happy
talent Of composition" When, a year
later, he was appointed Chairman of
the committee to draw up declaration
of independence, his co-laborers unan1-
mously left the matter in his hands,
and from the pen Of Thomas Jefferson
emanated the most remarkable I'M
peachment of an existing government
and a declaration Of the rights Of man
that ever burst on an expectant world.
Beginning in the years Immediately
preceding that Declaration of indie
pendence and closing in the early part
of the administration Of John Quincy
Adams, the writings Of Thomas Jeffer-
son are rich depository of principles
in the science of government.
He was a voluminous writer and his
reflections and theories, his profound
and original ideas in the realm of re-
ligion, morals, education, law, the
rights Of man. and other topics, are
we'll worthy the study and attention of
the people.
What He Foresaw.
He predicted that time might come
when there would arise an aristocracy
of wealth. and he expressed hope that
the country would 'scrush In it's birth
the aristocracy of our moneyed corpora
lions, which dare already to challenge
our government to trial Of strength,
and bid defiance to the laws of our
country He had genuine contempt
for the aristocracy of birth, and said: :
IAN honest farmer occupies more dig
nified place in the scale Of beings,
whether moral or political, than a lazy
lounger, yaluing himself on his fam
ily, too proud to work, and drawing
out a miserable existence by eating on
that surplus of other mems labor,
which is the sacred fund of the helpless
poor"
Between ITO and 1909 Jefferson
was in office either as Governor of Vir-
GINA, Minister to France, Secretary Of
State, Vice President or PRECEDENT; in
every office he served the people faith
fully, but made many enemies by his
honesty and truth.
In Virginia great struggle was going
on in favor Of religious liberty. The
Established Church had become so mar
row and dogmatic that all who dared
to differ from it in matters of faith or
politics were treated as heretics and
cruelty prosecuted. The church, at
that time, was essentially an English
institution, and many of its clergy con-
lsidered 1t q sacred duty to preach 10y
atty to England; this still further an
tagonized many. The struggle was a
fierce one, and Jefferson. naturally, be-
came one Of the leaders. He argued
and worked so diligently for religious