Show by a coincidence tho the centen nial of the declaration of independence falls upon the centennial of the death of of thomas jefferson who wrote it among the founders of the nation he was the foremost achieving with the pen us as washington with the sword and adams with the spoken word in his summary view of the rights of british america he gave such perfect expression to the political philosophy ot of the english speaking race that is called forth the approval of edmund burke and the admiration of 0 the libet liberals als of england in tho the declaration of independence he gave a vivid interpretation of the rightful and universal aspirations of the masses of mankind in his hia insistence Ins latance istance upon the incorporation in the constitution ot of the bill of rights there was effective provision made lor for the protection of the fundamental tights rights and liberties of the citizen no matter how humble against the tyranny of power by his reforms in virginia he broke the backbone of feudalism in america and paved the way for democracy in drafting the ordinance of the northwest territory tor for the etchi bion of slavery he not only saved the states state to be carved from it from that calamity but pointed to its ultimate extinction on american soil associating education with the success cess of popular government he laid the basis tor for the public school system in virginia founded the university of that state and thus set an example to tile the nation by the acquisition of louisiana he be I 1 ladd added ed a rich empire to the Te public by peaceable methods it is a happy coincidence that the american people can renew their fidelity to the elemental principles of the declaration of independence while according to its author the recognition due him by virtue of the services enumerated on oa the sesquicentennial centennial of the ono one and the centennial of the other 00 |