The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-14
BRYAN AND HOAR.
They Address a JeffersOnian
Memorial Banquet.

Washington, April 14.-W. ]. Bryan,
Senator Hoar and Governor Montague
Of Virginia, and former Postmaster
General Charles Emory Smith of Phila-
delphia, were the principal speakers az
a dinner given at the Hotel Barton last
night, under the auspices of the Thomas
Jefferson Memorial association in cele-
bration of the 160th anniversary of the
birth of the author Of the Declaration
of Independence. About 140 guests were
present. A feature of the musical pro-
gramme was the rendition of a march
by Leader Santelman of the Marine
band, entitled The Thomas Jefferson
March. II r. r. MacFarland, presi-
dent of the District commissioners,
presided. and Thomas Nelson Page act
ed as POSTMASTER. The dinner was not
of a political character Senator Hoar
responded to the toast The Author Of
the Declaration of Independence" He
spoke in part as follows:
If we want a sure proof of Thomas
Jefferson's grea tness it viii be found in
the fact that men of every variety of
find confirmation of their doctrine in
him. Every party in this country today
reckons Jefferson as its patron saint.
In my youth the political abOlitiOnists
made appeals to Jefferson the burden of
their song In the late discussion which
rent the country about the Philippine
islands, one side quoted what Mr. JEFF
ferson said in the Declaration of indie
thought he did in the acquisition OF
Louisiana. Every political sect finds it's
political doctrine in Jefferson, almost as
every religious sect finds its doctrines
in the sayings of the Savior of man
kind. The friend of state rights calls
attention to the fact that Jefferson
spoke of the government of the United
States as the agency at Washington
laration and his famous utterances
against slavery I tremble for my
country when 1 reflect that God is just
The supporter of a protective tariff
claims him as the highest protectionist
IN our history appealing to his desire
that there might be a wall around our
country which should keep out all for
eign manufactures. The free trader
maintains that the spirit of everything
he said and everything he did teach the
doctrine of unlimited freedom in all hu-
man conduct, except SO far as may be
needful for the restraint of actual
crime"
Elk Postmaster General Smith re-
sponded to THE Louisiana Purchase. -
Mr.. Bryan who was the last speaker
on the programme, addressed himself
to THE Statute for Religious Free
DOM He concluded as follows:
TO Jefferson the doctrine of free
speech and freedom of opinion applied
to everything, because he rightly I'M
derstOod that no censorship of opinion
could be permitted that would not be
more dangerous to truth than to error.
for those who are conscious of the
righteousness of their cause are not so
apt to invoke force in defense of their
opinions as those who are conscious of
error, and who, recognizing their in
ability to defend their views by reason
fall back upon coercion. In the pream-
bic of the act of 1886 it is stated, first,
that the propagation of religion by
force is contrary to the plan of God,
the author of our religion. Attention
is called to the fact that the Almighty,
being Lord both of the body and the
mind. yet chose not to propagate it by
coercions of either Jefferson recog-
nized that the Christian religion rested
upon love and that love is the very an
tithesis of violence and the brute force.
It is well to remember that the Decla-