lities. He was speaking of man in his social relations,
and in the same sentence he qualified the general assertion by
particularizing the respects as to which the quality exists,--saying,
that men "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights;
that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
The equality of which he spoke does not consist in equal endowments,
but in equal rights,--in the right of each man to the enjoyment of his
individual gifts, whatever they may be.

The proposition, that a representative government upon the basis of
universal suffrage is the direct result of man's equality and the
surest means of preserving it, opens a wide field for discussion,
into which we will not enter. It is not peculiar to Jefferson. We
must, however, remark, that he did not hold the extreme opinions
upon this subject which have been attributed to him. He thought that
popular institutions could be established, and the elective
franchise safely made universal, only in an intelligent and virtuous
community. In France he advised La Fayette and Barnave to be
contented with a constitutional monarchy. When the South American
States rebelled, and Clay and many other statesmen were enraptured
with the prospect of a Continent of Republics, Jefferson declared
that they were not prepared for republican governments, and could not
maintain them. At the same time, he was very far from thinking, as
some of our modern writers do, that men can become fit for freedom
by remaining slaves.

The third proposition, that the sphere of government is limited and
its action should be confined to that sphere, is the one to the
illustration of which Mr. Jefferson specially devoted himself. Upon
his services in this respect rest his claims to consideration as a
political philosopher.

It has been the custom to think that the government was the only
source of honor; it is still looked upon as the source of the
highest honor. By barbarians the monarch is deified. In many
civilized countries of our own time kings are said to rule by
special favor of the Deity; no one stands erect, no loud word is
spoken in their presence; and, indeed, everywhere they are
approached with a reverence so great that more could hardly be shown
to God himself. This homage is not given on account of eminent
personal attributes. These persons are well understood to be often
mean in mind and meaner in morals. The same feeling is shown towards
o