Putnam patriot., 1926-07-02

s.sapre in material wealth as com .-sred to the powerful and autocratic. arscrupulous and arrogant monarchy f=gt he and his fell0w-rebeis were openly defyiug.
 Jefferson Foremost
 Rut it was immeasurably rich in having as it's leaders the men who sstbered in Independence Hall on fhat fateful day. and foremost among them was the one whom We are hon. oring here.
 "i marvel at the vision that per- ,,itted him to see the victorious end af the long and bitter war which they knew would follow the action they took.
 .'I can not but marvel at his vision and his wisdom and his courage. That he was able to
 a'Peer into the future far as human
 eye could see
 See the vision of the world and all
 the wonders that would be-
 T marvel at the wisdom that could weave into words that wonderful Declaration; at the courage that ami mated him and his fellow-signers. For those who pledged to it's support, their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor were keenly alive to the danger that they faced. This is best attested by that sublime bit of hero ism of Charles Carroll, who. after signing 1t. was told by one of his asso- cIates.
 e'You are safe, there are a score ot Charles Carols.
 sWhereupon he added after his name, of Carrolton.'
 What an assemblage 1t was Washington and Adams and Jefferson, IHankan and Hancock and Lee, Sher- man and Whipple and Morris and Otis -fifty-three of them in all. And not one of them faltered. Washing ton did not sign the Declaration. but his place us the head of the men who created America can never be ques- toned.
 "'Those were the days that tried mems souls
 Not Demi-Gods
 "I am glad that history, although we had to wait long time for 1t. now reveals to us that they were not deml- gods, but men, in world of men. We are learning now how very human they were; that Washington probably never cut down a cherry tree, or If he did, he forgot about 1t when question ed by his father; that, on occasion, inc could swear like top sergeant in France in I9ls; that he kept, because he nkea t, supply of genuine pre- war stuff.
 Jefferson was red-headed. had quick eye for a gracefully turned an- kle, played the fiddle and had other weaknesses.
 We now know that Tom Paine was one ut the greatest of that group of statesmen. Unul a little while ago he was deprived 0f the honor due hm because history said that he was an atheist. d!sregarding the statement with which he prefaced one ot his lee lures, I believe III one God, and l hope for happiness hereafter.
 i am glad to know that Jefferson Was n4mau, that ne maae mistakes. Many of my friends here are conf dent of that, for he founded the Dem ocratic party After being on terms ol intimacy with John Adams, he quarreled with hlm and for score of years they dld not speak. Their re- eoncihation and later friendship are among the finest things in the lives of both Adams also died on July 4thi 1920. and almost his last words were Thank God that Jefferson still lives, not knowing that by few hours he had preceded him to that bourne from which no traveller returns, but he had left his name forever engraved on the hearts of his eountrymen.
 Many-Sided Man
 He was a many-side man. Perhaps no one but Franklin, and the latter was newspaper man, was so versa tile in his genius. l mentioned that he was a fiddler; he was violinist, a master of the art. trained and music-lcving musician; he was sue cessful farmer, an able lawyer (and 1 sometimes wonder which requires the greater abilityl ; praetieed and skill ful architect, scholar, hngulsti politician as well as a statesman.
 But what man was ever vouch- safed the rewards that came to hlm. The first secretary of state, the sec ond viee-president, the third presi- dent, and that for two terms; the trusted counselor and friend of those who succeeded him in that office. And for fifty years he was permitted to see the nation that he helped to found, develop and grow strong he sa" his dream come true; then, to die on its hftieth anniversary.
 Many Problems
 "We have had to face and solve many problems m government since 1926. We have, and will have, many others, but Is there man here Who would not prefer. hundred times over. to any other country m the world, these United States of Amerl- ca as a place in which to live. Not because 1t Is his home, but because here, if anywhere, he is guaranteed Life liberty, and the pursuit oi nap piness.
 We grow skeptical at times It may be illustrated in the remarAi sometimes heard, that in the event or another World War we would not have the men to defend America that we had in 1917. Don't believe that. Whenever this country IS menacea oy a foreign foe there will be just as many, ready and willing and anxious to give their services, and their hVes sha IEniDFI.