The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-04-13
THOMAS JEFFERSON-THE
 GREATEST AMERICAN STATESMAN

TODA1 THE DEMOCRATIC party of the
 United States will present a solid front to the enemy. Yesterday there was division Ill the ranks, and tomorrow the discussion of differences of opinion as to party policies and principles will be resumed, but this is the day dedicated to party peace and union, when Hearst and Tanmany Hall, Wilson and Champ f.litrk, hod carrier and Dtflti mil ionare, drink from the same loving cup a toast to the memory uf Thomas Jeffers0n great hero of American democracy, who was born at ShadWelI, l, zNa-s I'll years ago. In one State. Alabama Jef-l fersons birthday iss q legal holiday but in all fnlhers tine anniversary is observed with ban-s dueis and oratorv.
 With the passing of the years the rever- anee in which Jefferson IS held by the Amer icaIl people at large, as we'll as by the Demo cratic pa nfs has gincreased rather than dimin4 ished There have been iconoclasts who have sought to prove4and have built up 3 very fair aiase-that Thomas Paine wrote the Deelara- iion of Independence popular1Y attributed to FFhunlas Jefferson. and 4other idoI-breakersi have sought to show tIaf sJeffersonian sim pIieity was a myth. and that Jefferson really fiSed the life Of an aristocrat.
 It is doubtless true that 1he great advocate of equality was a man of somewhat luxurious habits, that he lived in splendid house that was almost a mansion, that he was surrounded by servants and slaves, that he ate the best food from the finest china and silverware, that he owned thoroughbred horses costly furniture and many rare paintings and statutes. There can be no denial Of this fact
 But simplicity and democracy are qualities sof the mind and heart, and they can be held and practiced by kings in their palaces as well as by peasants in their huts
 When Jefferson was President he was sternly opposed to any observance of his birth day. and when movement having that end in view was inaugurated by his friends, and he was asked to divu1ge his birthday, he refused. Nothing could be more distasteful to me than what you propose he deelared. and added when you address me shall be obliged if you will omit the mister
 There has been some confusien in regard To the birthday of Jefferson. When he was born in i743 the Julian calendar was still in vogue in England and her colonies, and Jeffer- son was born the second day Of April, ac- eordng to the old style When the new style ar Gregorian calendar was adopted in 1752. Rffersons birth anniver sary was advanced to Epril t3 and. that day has come to be generally Mserved. As the difference between the old and new style increases by day at the be ginning of each century and is now thirteen Jays, April IS is now the date corresponding to April of the Julian calendar
 Like his eminent contemporaries Ben- iamirr Franklin and Thomas Paine Jefferson was a writer and inventor as well as staunch 9vneafe o1 democracy and liberty. Jefferson invented the blow and originated the idea which resulted in the reaper. just as Paine iIl- vented iron bridges and suggested the possibili- lies of steam navigation. and Franklin brought electricity down from the skies to be- e-tII4e-sef4xafft-o mankind. As an author Jefferson left much of permanent value, and sne sentence may be quoted as having an ap7 1Iication 10 some ofitlie politicians of today:
 T think We have more machinery of gov ernment than is necessary. too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious.''