The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-07-06
The DAY We CELEBRATE.
The Greatest In the History of The World-A Mastery
Tribute To the Genius of the Man Who Made the
Day Possible.

wednesday was the natal day of
American INTERCHANGEABLE greatest
day in the history of the world-a day
that has made free government posi-
BILE, and is the hope and the inspira-
ton of the people of the earth.
The men and the hour met Sc c,ui-
pletely that it looks as if it were the
work of an overruling providence.
That our readers may become bet
ter acquainted with the commanding
genius of the one man that made this
day possible we republish an eulogy
of him made some years ago by Hon.
C. r. Breckenridge, Of Kentucky.
Mr.. Breckenridge said:
We do not celebrate the day be.
cause Jefferson was president. 9th.
er men became president, and some
have equalled if not excelled him in
the distinction with which they filled
that exalted position. We do not eel
citrate the acquisition Of the territory
of Louisiana, Of which our own fair
state Is a part, and which acT con-
firned in large measure the destiny
of our people and country. Nor is
there anything ic his life, devoted
though it was to patriotic service,
that binds him to our hearts for rhe
suffering he endured. Jefferson was
not a martyr. Though a devotee to
freedom and an advocate of revolu.
ton, his life was life of aff1uence and
ease and he died in peace and full Of
nonors. There Is nothing in his life
and there is nothing in his death. cal
culated to move us to love, tsnier-
ness or pity.
Neither as hero does he appeal to
our imagination. Jackson was the
strong arm of the democratic party,
We celebrate mis- great victory, though
1t was devoid of results; and we re-
member that he demonstrated for all
time both the energy Of popular gov
eminent and the sufficiency of consti-
tutional government.
But Jefferson was the founder of
the democratic party. He was the
statesman, philosopher, the doctrai-
naire Of democracy He is the chief
human exponent of all the world and
of all time of the correct theory of
government, and we celebrate this
day to exalt and perpetuate his doc
trines, and we hail it as the day-dawn
of new era that found its MONDAY
splendor in the PRONUNCIATION of the
declaration of independence.
Thomas Jefferson was not a phe.
nomenon He was not prodigy. He
vas the concrete and common sense
expression of the times. and conditions
in which he lived. All the ages con.
LrilHted to his being, and his mind
was clear, luminous and free from
heat. Bred among the colonies of
the British kingdom, he bTeathed the
free air of new world. Living in
Virginia he had all the advantages
of the most cultured society, and he
and the people about HIM, as thev
viewed the conditions and struggles
of Europe and met the requirements
of their own experience, had opportu
nifty and leisure TO compare it al
with the worlds history and to cor
rectly interpret the nature and rights
of man
According to tradition and inspired
writ, man began life happy and pure
Then there came the pastoral age
when the bond of government wa:
the family tie, and the controlling
force was love. Then comes the Ions
line of struggle. within and without
nation against nations, nation within
itself until we reach the more orderl!
period of the government of Rome
Here the first great truth in civil gov
eminent was laid down by one wh'
came to earth upon another mission
1t is that there must be no union be
tween church and state. When Chris
freed the church he likewise freed tn
state. How little this has been re
9o~1-1 the dark ages and the emanci
pating wars of modern times abun
dainty tell.
And still there flowed from the SAM
source another truth, and in sens
it is the genesis of all our theory o
government When Christ taught tn,
fatherhood of God, he likewise laugh
the brotherhood of man; and If mel
be brethren their rights are equal.
These are the two great truths o
civil government that Jefferson saw
believed and expressed with a clear
ness and practical force unequale,
among men. As Paul was the theolo
gian of the New Testament, so JEFF
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