The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-06-21

For over an hunOred years one Illus
trious Virginian, President Thomas
Jefferson, has been a great force in
American history and politics. He is
beyond fai rquestion the most fertile,
original and potent genius in politics
this country has had. You will not dis
cover this from either histories or biog-
raphies written by New England au-
thors, whether it be Adams's History
of the United States or some biogra-
ply in some series from the pen of a
asserting section of the American
union. Perhaps no American, certain
ly no southron, has been more misun-
derstood and more slandered. He has
been the target for all sorts of northern
guns. whether the old-style long barrel
flint and steel or the heavy breech-
loader, or some Long Tom" a favorite
with a skilled marksman. No Ameri-
can born has shown greater ability in
the domain of politics or more versatil-
ity. He was not confined to one study
or limited to one gift. He was indeed
III SOiipAhoA NS LIN S
sided Virginian. And withal he was a
genuine patriot and a staunch believer
in the people.
Only a student of American history
is able to understand the great Jeffer-
son, the democrat of democrats. You
must go back of the formation of his
government and follow closely the steps
taken in political movements until you
reach 1902. to really comprehend the
meaning and influence of that life
which is above all other political lives
in it's power over the people. Lately
Mr.. Jefferson's views and opinions have
been appealed to by both imperialists
and genuine friends of a Democratic
republican form of government. He
has been misunderstood and, therefore,
abused in the application of his wis
dom. We are not going n that here
now. We will quote from an able
South Carolina editor here. Mr.. Con
f~orcefully the question rs the Repub-
lie a Failure" says in a long editorial:
Mr.. Jefferson was an fdealist. He
was a speculative statesman and phil
osopher who loved to experiment in
politics and in science as we'll as on the
farm with trees and flowers, yet withal
he was practical. He could and did fit
theories to conditions and for that
reason he above all others of his time
left q personal impress on the new
government and it's politics. So great
was that impress that ever since his
day both parties ave more or less
claimed to be "Jeffersonian,"
and today the party which used to ac-
knowledge his chief theoretical p
nent as it's patron saint declares its
principles of Thomas Jefferson, while
the other party. his direct descendant,
so to speak. is no less loyal to the
Sage of Monticello"
The greatest fact and impress of Mr..
Jefferson's career es a statesman, is
his steady, clear. vigorous, ~unbendlng
d~yocac of the reserved rights Of the
states under the constitution. Many
and crimes have been perpet-
rated by men in power by ignoring the
constitutional limitations and the re-
served and sacred powers of the several
states of the American union. JEFFERSON
was indeed a great statesman, with
great prescience. with unyielding devo-
ton. with intense reliance upon NM
self, with unfiagging confidence in the
people. with vast industry, with I'M
mense reading for his time, and with
almost universal gifts it appeared.
Mr.. William E. Curtis the accomplish
ed and excellent correspondent Of the
Chicago Record-Herald, is writing up
Virginia in the past for that eading
In his special Of 18th inst,
he writes at considerable length OF
Jefferson, the genius in many lines,
who was "a real egotist," and not m
a politician and statesman, but he
gained recognition in scientific and
literary fields" a new book is to be
o published that will essay to re-
veal Jefferson as he was, and not as he
has appeared in h pages or either
hero-worshippers or bitter. systematic
detractors and enemies. How true
really it will prove. and how it viii De