The Jeffersonian heritage; Light and liberty

The National Association of educational broadcasters presents another in the series of transcribed programs on the Jeffersonian heritage light and liberty starring Claude Raines as Thomas Jefferson. I had not thought too much about his sudden Wadia name you were to see when the Rev. James Moret taught Greek and home where Thomas Jefferson put mind to parchment. Ulysses of the ring was a man I wore but I have counseled reasonable peace beyond the grave. Bring new friends. I know now the man who followed me in life. A poet named Tennyson who saw him break the javelin in the and I like this man here to see

I cannot rest from travel. I have become or are always wrong. I am but I have it. Oh don't want is to pause to make an end to rust on the burnished not to shine in. Your. War. Try in use. Yes your conduct is to be judged by your tutelage to demand I respect this man you were to seize a wonder in the service of his country and bring a new things to follow knowledge like a sinking star beyond the utmost bounds of human thought to strive to seek to firing to you light and liberty. Go Together. Men will be free and happy as they come to know more about

everything and to that great end of usefulness to strive to seek the light to find and not to yield to the power of darkness. I saw mankind headed toward destiny is beyond the reach of mortal life. I saw it when I heard the news from Paris in 1783 of the blue a crowd almost bereft of its renown Gallic reason. I had watched a monster taking shape and presently the monster left the Earth bearing two human beings at last. Man flu. I myself was in France a little later. I wrote to my good friend the Reverend James Madison president of the College of William and Mary about efforts to

extract hydrogen from coal to reduce the cost of ballooning. I wrote. I think a screw propeller. I have seen demonstrated on this one river might be used to guide and give direction to balloons in flight. I foresee the use of flying machines to traverse countries possessed by an enemy or to convey intelligence or to reckon I to an army. I see their use in commerce throwing new rights on scientific phenomena which the atmosphere is the theatre perhaps even the discovery of the pole from which the ice is hilar to stop the adventure. Because of my researches and some small inventions I was honored by election as a

councillor and then a great scientific body in Philadelphia the American Philosophical Society for promoting useful knowledge which the wise Dr Benjamin Franklin was president. I confess I was a bit diffident. Being a new member in a distinguished society but my zeal to be useful soon prevailed over shyness and I discussed the matter with Charles Thompson a fellow counsellor of the society. You know Mr. Thompson that you now answer to some inquiries about America made by the Marquis de Bombay mob while I wrote a long response. My so-called notes on Virginia. Yes. Some story matters are involved if I remember truths to correct Cabul and ignorance and to settle a morass of controversy about the mammoth among other things among other very vexing things. You take issue with Michoud before rather

daringly do you know perhaps correctly I trust and I did hope with credit to the American Philosophical Society. I might buy notes on Virginia to be a suitable offering to the society. And. I trembled for the answer to that question. But within the framework of those notes on Virginia as well as outside it I had to challenge the greatest minds in the world of natural science including the great Sean Connery before he was one of the gods of science. I contended against but what Patriot could stand idly by and hear such uninformed canards against the very climate and soil and people of America. Even from the great fall in the interest of the New World and of

truth and of the true scientific bit which knows no boundaries of geography I rose in defense of the unpredictable weather. The nonpartisan foreigner the disenfranchised fossils of America like the mammoth even again. A large force found in America is assumed to be a lie means of a month. This is not a man simply because he cannot be a member nor beast of such proportions could have grown on the inhospitable soil and climate of America. The mammoth is an absurdity entirely dismissable I dismiss it. It is if anything an elephant or a hippopotamus to do before in France is in the large tusks frame and teeth of the fossil proof certainly but the creature was not

a hippopotamus. And if n is the last alternative. The grinders are five times larger than any elephants and are square with blunt points entirely unlike the elephants. Moreover no elephant remains have ever been found in America. No cautious scientific philosophy can suppose America as a habitat of elephants which range 30 degrees on each side of the equator only it is an elephant. It is established that the mammal on the other hand did range north of the thirty six latitude. Probably as far north as the pole itself. How can the distinguished Mr. do before confuse this largest of terrestrial beings with the elephant cuti an elephant. The Great Mystery do before notwithstanding the mammoth was not without all night

in its own country. It became famous in America. A Philadelphia bake off a mammoth bridge for sale in Washington. A mammoth each had dispatched 42 eggs in 10 minutes. And later the mammoth became the first fossil skeleton ever mounted in America and probably the second in the world. Meanwhile I busied myself with investigations him each other out of ethnology botany astronomy optics quarreled with scientists about sea shells found three miles high in South Americas Andes mountains stood in the presence of space and time in all its immensity with David Rittenhouse astronomer of the society. Prove all things and hold fast that which is good. The scriptures told in the age long search for truth. Therefore dwelt divinity in science.

I saw all the portents of immortality and saw that it was impossible not to believe that in all these immemorial things there was design cause effect. When one looks at the Creation with its order harmony and beauty and wonderful design one cannot help perceiving God behind it all. We did see him in that bright spring time of the human mind. Perhaps then it was more than a patriotic bias that involved me further in dispute with the current debate for over his disparagement of the New World Order. Because of that we use an infinite number of speakers and the greatest rivers lakes marshes Rivers stagnating

waters cover immense tracts of land augmenting. And quantities of integrated. It is so that the ground is frozen. I deplore the readiness of European scientists to credit for imports of unskilled travellers who fill joined up with old wives tales about America. But more I deplore the inaccuracy and untruth. May I point out that the wild boar which may be considered the elephant of Europe is less than half the size of one of our smaller cars. This miserable condition of our neighbors in America is related to the inferior soil

climate and food all alike shrink under our niggardly sky and prolific land thinly people by wondering savages Myst should do before now is set upon the human life of America. He draws an afflicting picture of our natives which for the honor of all human nature. I am glad to believe has no true model. The Indian of America is a weak automaton incapable of improving a seconding the intentions of nature. Deny the invigorating sentiment of love. These sensations are less acute than the Europeans. And he is colicky. I have always had a deep feeling for the Indian has for all mankind and I declare with knowledge and not hearsay and bias that he is deeply affectionate. His friendships are strong and faithful to the uttermost extremity. And to us who have known his fighting qualities at first hand his bravery is without question he is a sharp mind devoid of the eye

Mitty's of speech and distant future. Eric wants to do before and his scientific contemporaries who have disdain to set foot in America yet speak weightily on it have not heard of Rogan the great mango chieftain chief Logan's family it was destroy his tribe defeated and forced to sue for peace. Logan would not attend the peace conference but sent by messenger. This famous speech which ranks with anything in my studies ever spoke and for itself speaks for the dignity of all mankind. I appeal to any white man to say if he ever entered Logan's cabin hungry and he gave him not if ever he came cold and naked and Logan closed them down. I have even thought to have lived with you. But for the injuries from one of your number who last spring in cold blood. Murdered all the relations of local. Not even sparing my

women a. Day in their runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living. This called on me for revenge. I have killed many for my country I now rejoice in peace. But do not harbor a thought that my joy. Logan has never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to follow. Not one. Is this American Indian suitable for poverty of sentiment or eloquence. Is it less testimony to human nobility than you will discover anywhere in all of Europe. Is this the speech of timid spirits and I think perhaps miss you too boo for his childish. While lending her for a

moment his vivid imagination and bewitching language let me reply of her humanity and the diverse peoples who Tenent this earth that greatness does not cost a lot or down upon any chosen one. No nation or environment has superior claim to the qualities of greatness and learning knows no barrier of creed or tongue or color. But America let me reply with the name of George Washington. We'll assume it's just station among the most celebrated workers of the world. Great David Rittenhouse is second to no astronomer living and Europe itself as witnessed with delight and respect the achievements of Dr. Frank. Lawlis. War. When Minister to France I had the good fortune to meet you too before

I was introduced perhaps as that American who insert notes on Virginia had combated his opinion. He was most tolerant and instead of entering into an argument with me presented me with his latest book. In return for mine. Keep this Mr Jefferson and the date when you should have read it you will be perfectly satisfied that I am right. I shall read your book for its many accuracy and medical science for science I think is more important in a Republican government than any other. The work of your life was in chemistry for example chemistry not but a kind of cookery. I consider chemistry big with future discoveries for the utility and safety of the human race. I place the Tory's or the laboratory on a footing with the kitchen as well you might say.

The chemists have not been attentive enough to their mystic objects to more brewing making cider to fermentation and distillation generally to the making of bread butter cheese soap to the incubation of eggs so as to make the chemistry of the subjects intelligible to our good housewives which is not a toilet I meant but let it go let it go. While in Paris I got someone to build one of my pendulum devices for setting the beat for music. I found interestingly enough that if I braided 52 times for Lago 60 foot adagio 70 foot andante 95 and 135 for presto we measured Haydn and Mozart. I had the violin my daughter Patsy at the harpsichord.

In 1789 on leave from my mission in France I came home to America. I was home at last resting on my beloved Monte China but not for long. Don't they make a rust on us. President Washington had asked me to be his secretary of state and I became secretary of state. Still I would not forfeit my science and my zeal to promote the general good bye and into chains of useful things. One such thing I presented for the consideration of

my friend Charles Thompson. My fellow Council in the American Philosophical Society for promoting useful knowledge which I later became president. Look at this diagram Mr. Thompson. Neatly executed Mr. Jefferson. What is it. If I am as apt an inventor as I am a draftsman then I am an apt fama. Would it be perhaps the board of a plough. The motor board of a plough or indeed it is thank you Mr. Thompson thank you. The rather curious pattern isn't my own invention. I consider what is the principle and purpose of the mold bought to receive the sod after the power chair has cut into it to lift up the sod and reverse it. Yes they are for the fore end of the really correctly design mode board should be horizontal to enter the sod

and the rear end vertical to throw it over the intermediate surface. Changing a gradually from the horizontal to the perpendicular in a continuous curve. It's seen as an admirable thing. On paper it is new in all the long and also the plow in the parliament and every ploughman may copy my plow as its own. He who receives an idea from me receives instruction himself without lessening my as he who like to tape it at mine receives light without darkening me well enough. But will the board work. I shall try it myself at Monticello. A busy farmer and secretary of state together. I shall not always be secretary of state. For you. Not always. After that it was the vice

president of the United States the summon me to service and I am in 1796. A monster of sheer delight and issued from the ancient caverns of Virginia stark and aged into stony abode as preeminent over the lion in size as the mammoth over the elephant. I name the new discovery. Great claw and the judgment of science would one day classify my discovery as made next year for so long. Later and better pally ontology identified the creature differently. But I have no embarrassment. I had the joy of discovery. Yes Nature intended me for the tranquil pursuits of science by rendering them my supreme delight. But the enormity of the times in which I lived forced me to take a part in resisting them and to commit myself on the boisterous ocean. A political passion yes.

Ironic that my silence brought me not tranquility but to melt and opprobrium. The jaws of long dead mega long necks mock me the tusks of prehistoric mammoth were brandished to keep from the presidency of the United States of America. Thomas Jefferson is a philosopher and that is to say as I had just as scientist dangerous politically unreliable and an enemy of religion. The way you. Read should indeed is our country if she is to be enlightened by these scientists whose industry is equalled by nothing but their vanity whose pursuits are impeded by no danger no difficulty no law human or divine.

And to what end. To quench the thirst for immortality and to degrade men from the rank of the angels. Yet the Scriptures themselves say Prove all things and hold fast that which is good and makes the worst politician. Yet I think our countrymen are too enlightened to believe that ignorance is the best qualification for their service. Doubtless as the philosophers claim sunbeams may be extracted from cucumber but the process is tedious. I'm a few years ago these philosophers scientists like Mr. Thomas Jefferson claimed it was gravelly to travel either by land or water. The scientific mode was to go by air. I mean if it was intended that men should fly through the air why were they not made with feathers and wings. The plow also has undergone a thorough change on mathematical

principles and we have at least one philosopher in the country who has pursued take an accurate measurement of the mammoth bone who's made surprising discoveries in the doctrine of vibrating pendulums and astonish the world with the precise gauge and dimensions of the Aboriginals in America. Surely no sensible man will go to the poll to vote for this man an infidel. Infidel a colored man. Yet in God we live and move and have our being. Same poem said that same poem. The Astronomer the scientist. No matter HOW to those who call me god list at the Reverend James Madison of William and Mary who believed in me but the Rev..

As the styles of the soul within me the Reverend Joseph will out of Harvard sided with me and St. Paul in seeing the divine hand in the swing and all that of the planets and the universal system. But life and liberty. Go Together. The majority of freemen in that light of freedom saw no fault in nature or in Nature's God and those who sought the Fruits of Nature. Friends and fellow citizens called upon to undertake the duties of the first executive office of our country. I have veiled myself of the presence of that portion of my fellow citizens which is here assembled to express my grateful thanks for the fave with which they have been pleased to look toward

me to declare a sincere consciousness that the task is above my talents and that I approach it with those anxious an awful presentments which the greatness of the charge and the weakness of my powers so justly inspire. A rising nation spread overwise and food for land reversing or the seas with the rich productions of their industry engaged in commerce advancing rapidly to destinies beyond the reach of mortal life. When I contemplate these transcendent objects and see the honor and the happiness. And the hopes of this beloved. We have spent the prime of our lives in procuring to our young men the

precious blessings of liberty. Let them spend their days in showing that it is the great parent of science and of virtue and that a nation will be great in both or ways in proportion as it is free. You have just heard light and liberty. Another in the series on the Jeffersonian heritage following plans of the noted historian and biographer Dumas Malone and repaired with his colleagues authentic and historical spirit while imaginative in fall. These programs dramatize ideas which are the enduring possession of all American and all free peoples. Today's

program starring Claude Raines as Thomas Jefferson was written by Milton Geiger with special music composed and conducted by Vladimir Selenski. This program was produced and directed by Frank. Have a. Listen next week for another in the series of programs on the Jeffersonian heritage. These programs are paired and distributed by the National Association of educational rights.