New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-01

the age Of thirty eight the other had
behind him a wonderful record, TOO
as Burgess OF Virginia, member OK the
Colonial Convention and Of the Cont
mental Congress. author Of the Dec
laration of independence and twre
Governor Of Virginia. After bareN
nine years in private life (all he ever
had since boyhood) Hamilton fell III
an unprovoked duel with politicai
opponent at the age Of forty-seVeh'
At forty-seven Jefferson had lett the
Governorship OF his native state III
some dlscredit from his lack of eXecu"
tive ability, had been twice a MEMBER
Of tire Congress at Annapolis, hau
spent five years in diplomatic service
abroad, four OF them as Minister "
France, and had been Secretary vi
State. Before him there still lay ser
vice for one term as Vice-President Oh
the United States, for two terms a'
President. and then after nearly forty
wears officehoding, there yet lay
seventeen years spent in retirement
and I'm incessant political exhortatioh'
Still the record made by the one peioro
he was forty contrasts not unfavoraoly
with the record left by the other al
eighty.
A PhiIosophic Thinker.
Mr.. Jefferson was not a man OF
genius. We have seen that he was not
an orator, not soldier, not good Elk
ecutive, least of all well-haiahceo
statesman. But he was philosophlc
thinker, or dreamer and get with
wonderfully practical gift for readlns
the tendencies of the populace' ana lor
putting them into persuasive and state
IL language. Constantly he did this so
as to command political success; once
he did il so that its consequences nave
encircIed the globe and the world VIII
remember him forever. He was AT
once a philosopher and partisan But
his philosophy was sometimes lli-oai'
anced and ill-considered; his partisan
shin was always adroit and carerulIy
considered, generally successful anu
sometimes useful
His other accomplishments were va"
ried. It was John Adams VINO de-
scribed how he was welcomed to the
Continental Congress, "as he proush'
with him a reputation for literature
science and q happy talent Tor conlpo-
sition." II was whispered about that
Gin addition TO Latin and Greek. he
understood French. italian and span
ish, was learning German, ana ihtenusu
"a learn Gaelic II he could get the
hooks from Scotland. in order TO read
Ossian (whom he considered the great
est of poets), in the original Inc
droIIerv Of his desire TO STUDY THESE
ORIGINALS OF Ossian is heightened by
his advice in a letter 70 a nephew, 10
nav no attention to college lectures oil
moral philosophy, and TO study the
writings Of Laurence Sterne, as form
ing the best course Of morality 'hat
ever was written. Besides he c""ld
calculate an eclipse, survey an estate
lie an artery, plan an edifice, try
case break a horse, dance a minuet
and play the violin" The last was IN
deed a favorite pursuit. He himseh
has left It on record that for twelve
wears of his life he played the Vioih
for three hours every day--a devotion
70 music you will perhaps think not
unworthy Of his Welsh blood.
Not Altogether Admirable.
began by asking you TO consider
few reasons why some work OF his gave
as much credit 10 the Welsh stock az
anything done by any other man OF
the blood. But l did not commend him
as a uniformly sound political thinker
or as an altogether admirable man.
In fact AS a political opponent he was
At times ungenerous and underhanded.
Even his close friend, James Madison
,vas constrained 10 apologize for his
freauent extravaganza and inconsls-
fancy He wrote: Allowance ought to
no made for a habit in Mr.. Jefferson, as
IN all others Of great genius, OF eX-
pressing in strong and round terms
IMPRESSIONS OF the moment (RandaI.
= naea 1881 4 few examples may.
show the urgent need OF this allowance,
and at the same time bring his real
character and It's limitations into
clearer relief. They will also show the
absurd extravaganza to which, in his
nolitical days, he habitually resorted,
"a the surest means OF impressing the
less intelligent voters.
He regarded Blackstone's Common
taries and Hume's History OF England
MS pernicious. They have made To-
ries," he said. "of ali England, and
are making Tories of those young
Americans whose native feelings OF in
dependence do not place them above
the willy sophistries of Hume or
blackstone, These two books have
done more towards the suppression OF
the liberties of man than all the mill
ion OF men in arms Of Bonaparte, and
the millions Of human lives with the
sacrifice Of which he will stand loaded
before the Judgment seat Of his Maker"