The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-20
THE MAKERS OF
 THE NATION.
(By Clark Mills Brink, Ph. D.
CHAPTER VI. Thomas Jefferson, the Apostle of Democracy.

Democracy.
 Washington was particular fortunate in the selection of the members of his Cabinet. No ministry since his day has contained so large a proportion of men of supreme ability-not even the fa- nous war Cabinet of the immortal Lin coin. The Presidents official household has considerably increased in num- bers since that dey, but even in the larger groups no two men have ever been found in one Cabinet who could compare in intellectual greatness with the two who held the leading places in the Cabinet of the first PSesi- dent. Every administration has had able men at the head of executive de- partments. but ability and greatness are not identical. In Washington's po- litical family were two great-two very great-men. For full century Hamil- ton and Jefferson have been names to conjure with. During all this period two leading political parties. by what ever names they have been called. have referred back to these two men as the oracles of their faith.
 Washington could not have had two stars of such magnitude in the constel- lation that surrounded him had he been less patriotic and liberal-mtnd- ed person. For we must remember that. although political parties had not yet been organized in America. the people were already dividing on defi- nite political lines. Washington. de- sirous of being the President of the whole nation, chose men of various ideas as his advisers
 Jefferson. more than any other man in our history. disputes with Hamil- ton the right to be regarded as the su- premest statesman America has pro- duced. The men more unlike in almost all particulars 1t would not be easy to ind. Jefferson was a Southern planter, owning. after his marriage. more than 10000 acres of land and more than 150 slaves; yet. he was in opinions Demo- crat. believing in the education of the masses and in universal suffrage. Ham, ilton ,on the other hand. was early thrown upon his own resources for SUD- port: yet he was an aristocrat in tastes and in sympathies. He cared less for the education of the people than he did for the supremacy of those who had been educated. Jefferson had wealth. but he cared less for riches than for men. Hamilton never had riches; yet. like all leaders of his political school, he had great consideration for property. and believed property should he a large factor In the control of govern ment. And, verify. both had their re- ward. Hamilton was popular with the rich, the learned. the powerful. and with them alone. He was too exclusive to be a favorite with the multitudes. Jefferson was loved by the common people and almost as a matter of course. when the time came. they chcse him as the peoples President. Even in person they were unlike. Hamilton Was small in stature, swarthy in complex ion. reserved in manner: Jefferson was 6 feet in his stockings. had red hair. and was approachable by all.
 When the Revolutionary struggle came on.. Jefferson was in the vigor of young manhood. and had already gained a reputation as an ardent patri- ot and as a facile and vigorous writer. We cannot attempt to follow him through the details of his career. The most we can hope is to set forth some of the characteristic work whkh he performed during his public life.
 Jefferson like most thoughtful men of his time, did not at first desire sep aration from England. He was forced to take the stand for independence ny the continued aRgressions of the moth CT country, and by the ultimate conclu- sion that there could be no comfort so long as the colonials were in sub lection. But when he had once put his hand to the blow he never thought of turning back Tn 1773 he wrote: "There is not Tn the British Empire man who more cordially loves a union With Great Britain than I do. But by the God that made me will cease to exist before yield to a connection o1 such terms as the British Parliament rro- poses" Tn the same year he be anne delegate from Virginia to the Sec )nd Continental Congress, and heard his eloquent colleague, Patrick Henry. make the renowned war speech, Give me liberty or give me death" But even Patrick Henry was not more Zealous in the cause of liberty than was he. On arrival of the news of Bunker I'I' he was made a member of the committee to draft a manifesto setting forth to the world the justification of the colo nies. Jefferson drew the document with his own hand. and he drew 1t in such vigorous English that the more conservative and timid members thought best to revise it lest the fiery ianGuage might prove unduly irritating to England. and so destroy all chances of conciliation.
 As the struggle went on and it be-