The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-15
THOMAS JEFFERSON AS A GREAT
AMERICAN.

The dinner given in Washington on Mon
day evening In honor of the one-hundred-
and-sixtieth anniversary of the birth of
Thomas Jefferson was unique in the respect
that the speakers were two Republicans
and two Democrats. This was appropriate.
but unusual. 1t was appropriate because
the dinner was given under the auspices
of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Asso-
citation, a non-partisan body that proposes
to erect a suitable memorial of Jefferson
in the national capital. and it was unusual
because Jeffersonian celebrations have
usually been conducted exclusively by DEM
ocrats. There Is no reason why this should
be 80, and the departure is commendable.
There is enough in the character and serv-
ices Of the patriots of the revolutionary
period for all parties to admire and revere
without treating them as partisans. None
OF them ever dreamed of the party divisions
Of to-day. They were great Americans ALL
and all Americans can find enough in their
characters and services to furnish common
cause Of thsnkfulness that they lived when
they did.
The Republican speakers at the banquet
Monday night were Senator Hoar and
former Postmaster General Charles Emory
Smith. The former responded to the toast.
THE Author of the Declaration of INDIE
pendence" in happy vein. citing as proof
of Jefferson's manysidedness the fact that
every political party. of the present day
finds something in mis- utterances or acts to
sustain their position. Jefferson talked and
wrote a great deal on a great variety Of
topics, and 1t was inevitable that he should
sometimes seem to contradict himself.
Perhaps he was more solicitous about ex-
pressing his real convictions at the time
than he was about being consistent. One
thing is certain: his writings are a mine
of political wisdom, and it is tribute to
the universally of his genius that three
quarters of a century after his death his
countrymen of both political parties should
still be studying his career for guidance
and inspiration. 1t could not be said Of
Jefferson as II was of one of England's
Kings. HE never said a foolish thing nor
ever did a wise one" Jefferson said
wrote some foolish things, as any man
must who wrote as much as he did, but he
did some pre-eminently wise ones. The
author of the Declaration of Independence
can be forgiven for having drafted the
Kentucky and Virginia resolutions of 1898.
and the President who had the foresight
and nerve enough to overstep the Consti-
tuition by the purchase of Louisiana Terri
tory should not be held to a strict account
for his narrow theories regarding the linn
tied powers Of the federal government.
Without specifying any of Jefferson's in
constituencies, the natural result of his
habit Of free expression. Senator Hoar
showed how different political parties at
different times had quoted him in their
support, and then paid him the high COM
pliment of saying:
More than any other statesman down to
his time-more than any other statesman
we can think of save Lincoln alone--he
had a steadfast and abiding faith in jus
tfce, righteousness and liberty as the pre-
vafling and abiding force in the conduct
OF states. and that justice and righteous
ness were sure to prevail where any people
bear rule in perfect liberty. For this doc
trine he was ready to encounter unpopu-
larity, poverty, IL need be, imprisonment
and exile. Upon II as on corner stone he
laid the foundation of the Republic.
All Americans must admit this, Repub-
licans. as well as Democrats. 1t is as true
Of Jefferson as II is of Washington, and
equally true CT many other patriots of the
revolutionary period. They may have diff.
fered somewhat in their views Of consti-
but they were all equally honest in their
views and in their devotion to the repub.
lican idea
Former Postmaster General Smith, re-
spending to the toast, 1.-THE Louisiana Pur-
chase" gave Jefferson full credit for that
magnificent achievement. 1t took a long
time for the country to realize its magni-
tude and value. For more than genera
ton after Jefferson's death party spirit
operated to obscure the importance of one
of the most splendid conquests ever
achieved by any nation through peaceabe
means. 1t required great statesman to
assume the responsibility of the Louisiana
! purchase when Jefferson did. On paper he
was committed to the view that the ma
tional government had not constitutional
power to engage in such a transaction. but
when he was brought face to face with an
actual situation and saw the incalculable
Importance of making the acquisition. he
did not hesitate to exercise the power. The
speaker paid Jefferson a fine compliment
i'm the following:
The honor which belongs to jefferson Is
greater than that of simply having been
| the President under whom the purchase
was made. He was the father of the vital
| policy which brought that splendid cul-
up to the Louisiana acquisition was the free
navigation of the Mississippi. The great
father of waters was western bound
| airy. and the frontier territory which rested
| on its higher shore demanded an unyexed
| outlet to the sea. Jefferson was the first
| of our statesmen to measure the impor-
| lance of untrammeled communicat ton from
| the Ohio to the gulf. Jefferson did
not violate the Constitution. Whatever
may have been said at the time. we all
| know IL now. But I'm a great public emer-
| gency he departed from his general theory
| of Interpretation and in doing IL he did a
| transcendant act of craftsmanship and
achieved an incalculable advantage for the
| Republic.
| Mr.. Smith was right I'm saying that JEFF
| ferson was the first of American statesmen
TO perceive and realize not only the trans
cendent Importance, but the vital necessity
to the United States OF the absolute control
and free navigation of the Mississippi
/ river Neither Washington nor arv of