Evening star., 1933-05-21
Grafton on Jefferson
Miss CoHifoper Stresses Courteous and Calm
Character of Father of Constitutional
Democracy.
0HE text of Grace Mary Colli1ow-
er'S prepared grafton on Thomas

"HE text of Grace Mary Collihow-
er'S prepared Grafton on Thomas
jefferson: Father of Constitu-
i tional Democracy follows in
full as she delivered 1t in the
| last night in Constitution Hall:
Thomas Jefferson, the man destined
! to take the chief place in the evolution
Of our constitutional history, was the
| first to interpret our governmental sys-
tenn in the light of democratic ideals.
Courteous and composed, he faced his
enemies. And, contrary to their hopes
and expectations, he accomplished the
work SO well that his Interpretation OF
our Constitution created real revolu-
ton in the principles Of our Govern
ment.
'If Washington was the presiding
genius in the Invention of that massive
and majestic instrument, the Constitu-
ton of the United States, their Jeffer-
son must be considered the master mind
| who set the machinery to weaving the
plain cloth of democracy. For when
| the Constitution first began to function
emphasis was, of necessity, laid upon
the Capitalization of power. But when
the Union had thus been well estab-
lished, principally through the execu-
tive influence Of washington and the
financial gymnastics Of Hamilton, then
it remained with the people themselves
to decide whether their country should
be gradually transformed into mon
archy, or should be land dedicated
to the legitimate will of the majority.
Washington did not live to see the rule
Of the people prevail; and Hamilton
had little faith in the intelligence OF the
masses Jefferson not only believed, as
he had said in his Declaration OF indie
pendence, that governments derived
their Just powers from the consent OF
the governed; but he was ardently op-
posed to anything that even savored
Of monarchy.
Jefferson was not a man OF empty
promises. In his first message, as Pres
| ident of the United States, he earnestly
supplicated for unity In the face Of dis
sension, friendship to all nations and
entangling alliance with none; for an
active and eflcient militia, for the free
dom of speech, Of the press and Of re-
Igion; and for economy in public ex-
penses. These principles he said,
| should be the creed Of our political
| faith, the text of civil instruction, the
| touchstone by which to try the services
of those we trust
Jefferson realized that a young ma
ton, to develop and prosper. must have
peace in its days of infancy. Accord
ingly he formulated his foreign policy,
which, with the exception of the regret
table embargo act, was the foundation
Of our international peace relations.
again, it was under Jeffersons lead
ership that the Louisiana Territory, the
nucleus Of II States, was purchased, as
q decisive step in his policy Of national
growth and expansion. For he rea-
soned that the larger our federated as
sociation became, the less would 1t be
shaken by local passions.
"There have always been those who
have proved the greatness OF Jefferson
by offsetting his many admirers with
enmity. Tt is in vain says Haw-
thorne, that we try to pick flaws in
Jefferson, that we say he played for
popularity, that he was pusillanimous
in his foreign policy, that he was indi-
rect, that he was heartless. These and
other accusations turn out to be un-
true, because the man was on larger
scale than can be comprehended at a
glance, and when we think we have
spied fault, we are apt to find that
it Is but virtue partially SEEN
| Thomas Jefferson retired from pub
lie life to enjoy the comfort of tran
quill pursuits only when his country no
longer demanded his services. In his
beautiful mountain home, on the heights
of the Blue Ridge, and near his be-
loved university, the. Sage of Month
cello devoted his days to his gardens
and his books. In the leisure now given
him he was free to exercise, undismayed
by public cares. that clear. logical in
tellect which, as John Daniel says.
was like an elephants trunk in that
it could pick up a pin or knock down
a lion'
His confidence in the American peo-
pie and in a Government under the
Constitution had been solemnly ex-
pressed in his first inaugural address:
"'I believe this the strongest Gov