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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1888)
.' ! THE HESPERIAN, nation. If it be not true, it is due to every student of history to know the truth. Washington placed the welfare of his country above every personal ambition. In him patriotism overcame selfishness Those who are to stand "next to him in public estimation'' must give evidence of the same spirit. He who docs not possess this spirit is a mere politician. Jefferson did not place his country above everything else His dominant ambition was lobe popular. When Genet was French minister to the United States, Jefferson was the ac knowlcgcd leader of his party, and of his countrymen. When, Genet aroused sympathy for French communism, in sulted Washington, and fired the people with a frantic desire to imitate the French commune, a word from Jefferson would have checked the frenzy. No such word was spoken. By his silence, Jefferson gave the people every reason to bcliev they had his sympathy. As a recognized leader, it was hig duty to guide and check the masses. Little as he approved of the conduct of the people, he declined to interfere, be cause he would not endanger his popularity. Jefferson ever sought to gratify popular expectation, and win popular approval. The sentiment of the people he ncvcr dared to oppose. This is the key to his political career. He made himself conspiciously untidy in dress on state oc casions, that it might be known he was not an aristocrat; while at heart he was an aristocrat of the aristocrats. lie as sumed a hypocritical mask of outward equality with the people that he might win their sympathy. He claimed to be head of the nation, not because he was wiser or greater than the masses, but because he was like them. He even denounced a positive and conscientious leadership, and proposed to sub stitutc for it a subservient acquicscnce in popular opinion. He opposed the constructive schemes of Hamilton as uncon stitutional and dangerous. The idea was gratifying to Amer ican pride. The national officers were no longer to be lead, crs, but servants of the people. Full of love for Jefferson, they placed him at their head, looking to him to realize for them the ideas he had so long preached. Rut once in power, Jefferson treated his former theories as chimerical, and proved his former professions to have been insincere. The construc tive schemes he once denounced, he now supported. What was unconstitutional in Hamilton, under his magic adminis nation, became constitutional. During Jefferson's fust presidential term little was done that did not follow the course marked out by the great Feder alist leaders who had precccded him. Still the remembrance of Jefferson as a sympathizer with the French, as the Amer ican Communist, as the ulta-democrat, blinded the people to his ical course. lie still retained the shallow pretence of democratic mannf rs in speech and dress, and the people be lieved him honest. A statesmen must not only have practical theories of gov ernment, but he must also have the ability to apply them. Otherwise he is a mere visionary. During Jefferson's second term, political affairs became complicated, and a statesman was needed to manage the government so as to avoid a war with England. Such states manship Jefierson did not display. He formed a weak theory of passive retaliation, and announced it to congress in a voice of authority, never before known, and never since equalled, except by Jackson. Yet such was his confidence, that even Adams, a member of the opposition, said, "the president has recommended this measure on his high respon sibility. I would not consider, I would not deliberate, I wo.jld act. The president doubtless possesses such further informa tion as will justify the measure." This but voiced the im plicit conndcncc oi all. Hut Jefferson had no 'such further information.' Weeks passed and war grew more imminent. The embargo had reduced the country to extremities' and from every side came petitions to have the measure re pealed. Now was an opportunity to show himself the ser vant of the people t'.i he had professed to be. With the unreasonableness of an obstinate man Jefferson clung to his plan and refused to yield. In the face of the popular will, of which he had always professed to be the servant, he still urged Congress to continue the embargo. His wish was granted, but it was soon demonstrated that even Jefferson could not reconcile the people to this measure. State legisla tures denounced it as "unjust, oppressive, and unconstitu tional." The embargo failed to accomplish the purpose ex pected of it. Congress now looked to Jefferson for advice. Always without the resources of statesmanship, Jefferson had no substitute to offer. At a time when his country most needed his services, this was the answer made to the urgent appeal: "I think it fair that my successor should now originate those measures, of which he will be charged with the execution and responsibility." So for weeks he remained helpless, anxiously awaiting the close of his term and a suc cessor to rise equal to the emergency. It is often said that our country as it is to day is the ideal government of Jefferson. The truth of this statement may be estimated from Jefferson's comments on Shay's Rebellion. He said: "of the commotions offer nothing threatening; they are a proir that the people have liberty enough. If the happi ness of the people can be seemed at the expense of a little tempest now and then or even a little blood, it would be a precious purchase. To punish these errors too severely would be to suppress the safeguard of public liberty. A little rebel lion now and then is a good thing. It is a medicine necessary to the sound health of government. God .forbid that we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The ttee of lib erty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." The absurdity of these words is evi dent without comment. Popular opinion exalts Jefferson for the purity and gran deur of his'character. But his private life was corrupt and immoral; while in his "Anas" there are many records of vile slander, blackening the fair fame of his rivals. These remain an imperishable mark of a base and ungenerous mind. Grack M. Bakrktt. STRA Y PICK-UPS. "Sir, I report as orderly." An arm of the service Pound's left. A rubicund olfactory protuberance Smith's. Ask Haft why he ran so fast when the girls came. What's the matter with McMullcn? She's all right. "Give me some more of Fletcher's French toast, please." Stout and Gillespie haven't got over their trip to Beatrice yet. "Stop that car sir. Sir, the car is stopped. Take your post sir." Prof. Hunt received news of the death of his sister in the East last week. Mrs. Lloyd has so far recovered from her sickness as to be able to return to the laboratory and begin her work again. She was warmly welcomed by her classes, and, although she Hi ' (Hi L