The border vidette., 1931-07-04
THREE U. 8. PRESIDENTS DIED
ON THE FOURTH OF JULY

our usual observance of Inde.
pendence Day. This is especial.
~ strange because this historic
fact has touching and dramatic
meaning. July 4 is the day on
which three Presidents of the
United States died. Each of
these three early Presidents
played q prominent part in the
very formation Of our govern
ment, and each received, as q
reward from the people, eleva
ton to their highest Office. Hav
ing performed great labors in
planning the theory of our gov
ernment, it fell to their lot to
set noble examples in putting
the theory into practical effect.
These three Presidents were
John Adams, Thomas Jefferson,
and James Monroe. Indeed
John Adams and Thomas Jeffer
son died almost at the same hour
on July fourth, 1926 After
many sharp differences of opin.
ion, which divided them during
a part of their lives. Adams and
Jefferson became not only recon
ciled but closely attached friends.
The correspondence of their final
years is one of the glories of
American letters. Adams lived
to be ninety. Jefferson eighty
three. Neither knew how close
to death was the other, and
Adams last words, when COO
scious that death was near, are
said to have been, Thomas JEFF
ferson still lives" But Thomas
Jefferson was already dead.
Before their Presidency, both
these great men served as Vice
President, and one of them as
Vice President while the other
was President. The older man,
John Adams, was Vice President.
under George Washington, him
self. All three were closely as
sociated with Washington during
our formative days, and to one
of them, John Adams, goes the
credit for playing q major part
in throwing Washington into the
arms of destiny.
1t was largely the action of
John Adams that led the Cont
mental Congress to appoint
George Washington IS commau
der-in- chiefof the Revolutionary
forces. Before that time Wash
ington had been an outstanding
| sectional figure. a man of the
South. In command of the Con
tinental forces, be became . man
of the country, and history
knows full we'll how be played
the part.
James Monroe.a a younger man.
appeared on the scene Of action
after the great political ground
work Of founding the nation had
been accomplished. But as Q
young man he played q gallant
part on the field of battle, as q
follower Of Washington.
Strange to say, be at first op
posed the Constitution of the
United States, aud, as q member
of the Virginia Convention,
elected to act on adoption of the
Constitution. he voted against it.
Yet be lived to become the pre-
sident who enunciated a Doctrine
that statesmen regard as no less
a settled rule of American policy
than the Constitution itself.
James Monroe died on July 4,
1881; but the, Monroe Doctrine"
is immortal.
The older men, Adams and
Jefferson, are forever linked
with George Washington as lead
ers in the movement that made
America independent. Washing
ton was distinctly the man OF
action. the soldier, the director
of affairs, and without him the
Revolution might never have
moved to victory. But just as
necessary were the philosophy
of Jefferson in shaping our prin
ciples of government. and the
abilities of Adams in waking and
training popular opinion. a labor
in which ha had few Deers. Both
Adams and Jefferson served on
the committee to draft the De
claration of Independence. Both
signed the Declaration, and to
one of them, Thomas Jefferson,
belongs the immortal honor of
having written that timeless in
strument.
In spite of their passing differ
ences. these two giants Of in.
tellect and manhood were part.
norS thr0uUhOnt thoir livno in