The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-11-26

tional convention. Adams threw lhI
final years OF his life into a worth!
effort TO secure religious and po
lltlohl equality in Massachusetts, fo
others than Puritans and Christians
He lived 10 SEQ the elimination OF hi
work.
Adams died July 4, 1926, few
hours after jefferson breathed hi,
life away, with a final exclamation
which showed how completely time
had healed the old wound
Thank God, Jefferson still lives n
jefferson, Father OF the Schools.
And Jefferson, though ho Is gem
orally cited as one OF the men who
retired into dignlficd obsCurlty af-
ter the elapso OF his last term, is, in
fact better example OF the other
school II is true. he did 60 back
70 his loved Monticello and live for
a number of years In the humblest
circumstances. The embargo on
tobacco had reduced him to suck
penury that his creditors made his
departure from the capital uncom-
Portable. The acquiescence OF JEFF
ferson in the very measure which
ruined him stands even still as one
OF the most unselfish acts OF the
presidents. But, in the declining
years OF his life, Jefferson came into
vast prominence again when he be-
gan the agitation OF free public
schools in Virginia and the entire
nation. Possibly OF all the acts OF
Jefferson least il known OF this last
and GROWING work OF his life, a
work whose final Importance and
bearing on the destiny OF the ma
ton can ho accounted second not
even 10 tho purchase Of the Louisl-
ana territory.
Two Who Kept the Rule.
Jefferson died before tho com
mon school portion of his great plan
had been realized, but he did man.
age to found tho University OF Vir-
glnia, as you may read on his mon.
ument.
Madison went back to the day
and ideal OF Washington lie spent
the remaining twenty years OF his
life with his books and his dreams
at Montpelier, his Virginia estate.
Monroe lived only seven years af-
ter his retirement and he spent all
OF that time at home. II was when
asked TO become an elector that he
declined with the famous declarau Jon
hat an ex-president should teSer
become party leader.
The next president is without
ioubt the most widely recognized
OF chief magistrate who lat
n held lower office in the govw
arnment. Two years after his re-
tirement In 1929, John Quincy Ad-
inns was offered seat in the lower
branch OF congress and he readily
II, Then, for seventeen
consecutive years he served his coun-
ny as brilliantly and we'll as ever
he might have in the White house. |
Few OF the official acts Of the sec
md Adams while in the presidential /,
eat have withstood the mutation OF |
ime in the popular knowledge Of |
american history, but at least one |
u his acts in congress will always |
'e unforgettable.
And "Old Man" Eloquent.
Toward the end OF Adams service
n the house, the slave question be-
anne a decidedly livid issue 10 CON
Iress, ana an attempt was made ny |
he slave sympathizers, then In pow
r TO bring about circulation OF the
for the abolition OF slavery
n the nation generally, but in the
district OF Columbia in particular
dams vigorously opposed this arbi-
rary disregard OF the right OF petit
lon and for the first time In Amerl-
an history, the gang rule was en-
lcyed against him.
Almost alone, Iampooned, reyiled
nd threatened, Alams carried on his
Ight for these two cardinal priuol-
les OF popular liberty and free gov
rnment. He was threatened with
xpulsion from the house and actu-
lly faced down resolutions capti-
usly accusing him Of all sorts OF
rincR.