Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-04-19
JEFFERSON bAY.

| A"ot thursday, April IL, was the an
nlversary of Thomas Jefferson. and
! IN Chicago and some other cities the
day was observed by banquets at which
speeches were made by representa-.
| tlves OF a party which claims Jeffer.
son as it's patron saint and political
guide. Just why this advantage should
be taken of a good man who has been
a long time dead and cannot defend
himself is hard to explain. Jefferson
held to nothing in common with mod
ern Democracy. Claiming Jefferson
as Its political godfather looks like
far-fetched use of his name to give
1t standing. Jefferson declared that
all men were created equal" Mod
ern Democracy has fought that propo-
sition for forty years and is still at it.
Jefferson was a protectionist. Modern
Democracy Is Overwhelmingly for free
trade. In many other respects JET.
ferson's career and teachings were re-
mote from the grab-bag assortment
OF curios now so frequently found in
Democratic platforms and designated
as declaration of principles. Jeffer-
son has some fixed views although
at times he did not hesitate to resort
to the tricks of the demagogue.
Although Thomas Jefferson was
great man, he was no saint, and
the veil of hundred years cannot
make him such. His good deeds are
the inheritance of the ages. No party
has any special claims upon him and
certainly not the party that now at
tempts to parade it's virtues at his
expense.
Jfferson had many faults and he
has certainly been placed in a false
light. We hear much of "Jeffersonian
simplicity The sage of Monticello
has been held up as ali example of
man of most simple and democratic
habits, but it is a fetch that never
had foundation in truth. According
to facts that have developed after
careful research into his career and
a study of his character, Jefferson's
life, instead of being simple, was full
of display and lavishness. He was
born into one of the most aristocratic
of the aristocratic families of the Vir-
ginia aristocracy, which was "the
most exclusive, pretentious and least
simple society this side of the Allan
tic has ever known" He was the
richest young man in Albemarle coun-
ty. He married rich," his wife bring
ing him 10000 acres and 1876 slaves.
His home, Monticello" was ian abode
of luxury with retinues of liveried
servants and formal behavior" AS
minister to France Jefferson spent not
only his salary but went into his
private income to maintain his es-
and provide brilliant en-
AS member of con-
gress and as secretary of state at
Philadelphia he maintained sump-
tuOus house in the suburbs and had
in his establishment, besides five
horses, five servants in livery, in.
Guiding a French butler" His din
ners were renowned for their elegant
lavishness and he was denounced by
Patrick Henry as one who had "ab
jured his native victuals."
For two years of his presidency JEFF
ferson was "ostentatiously slovenly in
his Dress but during the rest of his
two terms he lived, as ne was used
to living. in the height of the style.
He even maintained coach and four
and clad his coachman and footman
in liveries like those of Paris and
London nobility. He was also said
% be the proud possessor OF a coat
Of arms"
Yet, with all his faults, the American
people honor the name of Thomas |
Jefferson. His was great construc-
i've mind. He saw into the future
md this and other generations have
,athered the fruits of his wisdom and |
foresight. He was simply human, in
ensely so, and so being he had faults,
tut his virtues outnumbered them.
such being the case he should not
'e canonized or claimed by a disor-
Tered and distracted party that has
Invariably proven false to his teach