New-York tribune., 1904-10-12
WILSON'S %JEFFERSON."
"A Suggestive Study of the Virgi"'0''
Statesman.

srTgE LIFE AND TINES OF THOMAS JEFBEF5;-
5ss. D. Appleton Co
Mr. Watson has not written formal or pom
osrous life OF Jefferson. His purpose has been
vasber 20 draw vivid and entertaining picture
~ cha times IN which jefferson lived ana to
make clear the conditions under which he old
his work as a practical statesman and social
oDH rolitical reformer. In method the author Is
ar-eeably dlscursive. and there are many chap
sers in which the thread of Jeffersons life story
As swallowed UP in maze Of poltlcal ana MS
rorIcaI discussion. Mr.. Watson is nothihg
not ,olen,ical. As he says IL his preface. Amer
lean histories and biographies have been Wit
ten chiefly by Northerners-not 10 say New
Fnpaanders As IS natural the New-England
yooint oP view has colored the record. MI wat
son wants to restore q just historical balance
5Ie loses no opportunity therefore, 10 cohIuIe
what he thinks are the misconceptions Of North
ern historians. He freely criticises Fiske' Wood
row Wilson Hndreth. William T. Curtis Henry
Cabot Lodge and other Of his historical breth-
ren. There is Justice in many OF his structures.
Yet Il IS rather singular that he never clashes
with Henry Adams-by far the ablest and most
searching Of Jefferson's critics. To Adams's
snaste7ly study Of Jefferson's two administra-
Rions there is, indeed, scarcely single reference.
Possibly this omission IS due to the fact that
ar. Watson is disposed TO lay least stress or
Jeferson's record as an administrator. Barely
sixty pages out OF over five hundred are given to
Jefferson as President. Jefferson as man, as
"a idealist, as political and social reforrer aD-
Eorbs the authors attention. His attempts to
uaTry theory into practice IN the Presidential
o6ice are accordingly run over lightly though
aEr Watson does not fail TO acknowledge that
hhe great Virginiaa. when in power. was any
1hing but consistent in applying the theories he
had profe5sed IA opposition. Says this candid
biographer IN summing up Jefferson's political
record:
Els discrimination was that Of the man Of the
sEorld who knows better than 10 tell those he
Goes hate then; bis diplomacy vas that Of , The
Of the least resistance his Inconsistency that
Df the practical leader. who not being able to get
what he knows 70 be best accepts compromise
father ;hsn get nothing. theorist, he sllowe1
ahe force Of circumstances % constraln him 70 oe
silent ghen his eonytcfions 5ade hlm spe1h' 10 Do
Guiesoeht when they would have urged him to ac-
IN theory ne was an absolute FREQ trader but he
fsd no crusade against tie F'ederalst tariff lie
believed that the nation should supplement its
Spcv ~ a.. rTcs yTs eyy roteS bottomed on
taxes; but while he President lie made no
Glforts 70 inaugurate his system He de-
sudges as sappers aud miners who we're loosening
Ehe Foundations Of democracy; but he did not ez-
eTt himself the disease by any constitu-
ftoIai treatment It excited his profound ndigna-
siionSl bsn ts inTeTni1 hover 10 create
money but when his friend Madison was about TO
bank. wo do not find that Mr. Jefferson protested
The Constitution did not authorize the acquisition
Of foreign territory or system OF Internal i'm
FroveTnents, yet he bought Louisiana, tried buy
nue. Tosdz. canals and education. An ardent
advocate Of freedom Tor the negro be Kept his
own slaves TIL the last
Nr. Watson does nol try 10 smooth out or
plain away these Inconsistencies. Indeed. they
are not susceptible Of such treatment. But he
emphasizes-and -Jeferson's overshadow-
lng role not practitioner. but as a theorist.
From his actions can be drawn conclusions
which uullfy the great mass OF his teachings.
But in one respect his fame is unassaiabIe. It
was his distinction 10 give 10 our society in its
critical formative stage that impulse toward
genuine democracy which has since guided and
controlled II. his democratic doctrine. taking
root first in Pennsylvania, then I'm Ohio Ken
tucky, Indiana, Tennessee and the other States
beyond the mountains overthrew IN time the
fheocratic system Of New-England and the aris-
focratic system in New-York. and in the end
struck down the great slave holding oligarchy Of
the South. To have launched and fathered this
great moys'nent makes Jefferson perhaps the
most potent figure politically Of the first century
Of American development. Mr.. Watson IS there
fore right IN exalting the theorist rather than
Ehe statesman IN his chosen hero We have
found THE Life and Times Of Jefferson" thor
bughly interesting and suggestive study