New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-08

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: May supplement your strong and
timely editorial appearing in your issue Of
Monday of this week with short state
mon, of facts" Those who are familiar
with the literature of American statesman
ship often must wonder they read re-
ports OF Democratic celebrations of the
birthday Of the father of their Farty X the
conspicuous manner in which the orators mis-
represent him, obviously having given but
slight attention to his actual writings and
having taken for granted that If they did
search out his utterances they would find in
the vouminous literature OF which he was the
author something that would match or Justify
their own predictions or misconceptions.
Knowing that he drafted, in the man, the
Declaration of independence. document writ
ten for the strong and intelligent American
people Of that time, they assume without
searching the records that he would have
applied every sentiment written with their
enlightenment in view to each and every
race on earth, however uncivilized it m ght
be or obviously incapable OF self-goyern-
ment
In the early days Of the Philippine con-
troyersy days in which as broadminded a
thinker as the late Carl Schurz went COM
pletely to pieces in an address on imperial
sm made in Chicago had occas on 70
quote to this modern publicist remarks Of
his in the Senate in 1871. when the Santo
Domingo annexation controversy was under
consideration remarks in which he "chal-
stance in all history in which one of the
tropical brown races had shown itself capa-
bic OF self-government; and | pointed our
n the time that Santo Domingo and Manila
were in about the same latitude. though thc
southern islands, such rs M.ndanao, were
the moro tropical.
But Jefferson was exceptional in that he
discerned the difference in capacity between
races; he thought further than Mr.. Schurz
did more along continental lines. This was
demonstrated especially in his treatmen, Of
the South American republics question in
letters written 20 his early colleague .n the
Continental Congress. John Adam. letters
written only seven on eight years before they
both passed away on the same day, the hf-
ticth anniversary Of the signing Of the great
Declaration. If Democrats ever unearthed
these letters they are both in the last vol
ume of Paul Leicester Ford's edition OF
Jefersons works, they have been chary Of:
making their contents public; they never
have done IL; and it remained for ne, in the
columns Of The Tribune. years ago. 10 30 l.,
In view OF the rash and unstatesmanlike
proposals now before Congress It seema
timely 20 re-preeent them and let Demo
crats sec how out Of joint their theories o.
the fitness Of all F!ipinos. head hunters
and the rest. for self-government are with
what Jefferson thought OF the more adj
yanced South Americans, who had had their
contests with Spain, we're promised victory
over her and had helped to bring about a
situation in which President Monroe's an
nouncement OF what We now call the Mon
roe Doctrine seemed appropriate
The first Of these letters TO Nr. Adams 20
which call attention is dated May l., 1918.
IN il ne writes:
Il enter into all your doubts as 20 the
event Of the revolution Of South America.
They will succeed against Spain. But the
dangerous enemy is within their own breasts
ignorance and superstition will chain their
minds and bodies under religious and mill
tary despot.sm / DO believe il would be
better FOR them 20 obtain freedom by degrees
only; because that would by degrees brinr
on ight and information and qualify them 20
take charge OF themselves Understandings,
with more certainty, in the meantime, under
such control may keep them at peace with
one another"
He adds that il is our duty to wish them