The early sunlight filtered through the filmy draperies to where a
wondering baby stretched his dimpled hands to catch the rays that lit his
face and flesh like dawn lights up a rose. His startled gaze caught and
held the dawn of day in rapturous looks that spoke the dawn of Self, for
with the morning gleam out came the greater wonder. It was the mystery of
Life.
Across a cradle where, sunk in satin pillows, lay a still, pale form as
droops a rose from some fierce heat, the evening shadows aslant, and
spoke of peace. The twilight calm enclosed the world in silence deep as
Truth, and on the little face the wondering look had given place to one
of sweet repose. It was the mystery Death.
At head and foot the tapers burned, a golden light that clove the night
as Hope the encircling gloom. Across the cot where lay the fair, frail
form, his hand reached out to hers and met and clasped in tender burning
touch. Into the eyes of each there came the look that is the light of
life; that spoke of self to each, yet told they two were one. It was the
mystery to which the mysteries, Life and Death, bow down—the mystery of
Love.
Thomas Jefferson and the Average Man.
[Extract from lecture of Dana C. Johnson on “Thomas Jefferson.”]
The epitaph on the monument of Thomas Jefferson, written by himself,
reads thus:
HERE WAS BURIED
THOMAS JEFFERSON
AUTHOR OF
The Declaration of American Independence,
of the Statute of Virginia for Religious
Freedom and Father of
the University of
Virginia.
These three deeds he doubtless regarded as the greatest of his life. But
the real greatness of Thomas Jefferson, and his value to his country,
cannot be comprehended in any recital of specific deeds. His influence
is of a broader scope and flows in a deeper current. He stood for a
principle which to-day constitutes the very bulwark of this nation, and
is not only her strength but her pride. That principle is the right of
every citizen to have a part in the government of the nation—to direct
its policy—to be responsible for its errors—to share in its triumphs.
Thomas Jefferson recognized the value and stood for the rights of the
average man, in a time when those rights were in great jeopardy. In this
he displayed his characteristic political foresight, for the average man
is the backbone of the nation. He has achieved the triumphs of her past
and holds the key to her future destiny.
In my mind’s eye I scan the history of our nation as one might view a
panorama.
I see a company of stern-faced men land on the bleak New England shore
and kneel in prayer upon a rocky beach. They have crossed a stormy ocean
to engage in the hard task of establishing a colony in the New World,
where they may worship God as they desire—the earnest, stalwart, heroic
Pilgrim Fathers. But who are they? Average men.
Yonder is a company of men standing at Concord Bridge awaiting the
advance of British regulars. They fight and some fall in the battle and
by that sacrifice become immortal—the first martyrs to American liberty.
Who are they? Volunteer soldiers—farmers and tradesmen—average men of the
community.
I see a caravan of crude and picturesque conveyances wending their way
across the Western plains—each wagon containing a family of pioneers—the
advance-guard of civilization—enduring hardships and performing mighty
labors of which we reap the benefits. Who are they? Average men and women.
Here are two armies drawn up in battle order—hundreds of thousands
of young and valiant men; fighting for what they regard their rights
and duties; suffering unspeakable privations and performing deeds of
matchless valor—the army of the North and the army of the South—whose
conflict demonstrated to the world the extraordinary resources of this
nation, the exceptional qualities of the American soldier and the
absolutely unconquerable strength of a united country. Who are these
soldiers? Fathers and sons from farm and store and factory. Average men.
I see a half-dozen regiments charging a Cuban hillside to dislodge a
fortified enemy—strong, alert, confident soldiers—their courage born of
the consciousness that they are fighting for right and justice against
wrong and oppression. Who are they? A strange conglomeration of militia
men, regular army soldiers, nabobs from New York, rough riders from the
plains—but all of them average men.
So through all the years of our nation’s history, in the hours of her
peril and of her achievements, she has been saved from shame and has been
crowned with glory by the deeds of her average men.
Great men have arisen from time to time to lead her armies into battle
or to defend her principles of liberty and justice, but, after all,
these leaders had been powerless and, indeed, impossible except for the
rank and file—the host of average men, who followed them and put into
effect their teaching; not as slaves, but as free men doing their duty as
intellect and conscience had directed.
Who is it that will determine the future policy of this nation and
write success or failure above her gates? Not her millionaires, nor her
statesmen, nor her scholars, nor her soldiers, but the average men whose
votes count millions in the aggregate and whose will is law.
Thomas Jefferson understood this and read the future with unerring mind.
Therefore he made it his chief concern and his great political work to
protect the rights and enlarge the privileges of the average man—the bone
and sinew of the state.
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