THE JEFFERSONIAN CYCLOPEDIA is designed to be a complete classified arrangement of the Writings of Thomas Jefferson on Government, Politics, Law, Education, Commerce, Agriculture, Manufactures, Navigation, Finance, Morals, Religious Freedom, and many other topics of permanent human interest. It contains everything of importance that Jefferson wrote on these subjects. Why and wherefore the publication of this volume now? The answer is this: More than three-quarters of a century ago, one of the earlier biographers of Jefferson wrote: "It would be a happy circumstance for America and for the mass of mankind if the works of Jefferson could obtain a circulation which would place them in the hands of every individual. Unfortunately, the form in which they have appeared is not the most advantageous to the accomplishment of this desirable purpose. The publication is too voluminous, and consequently too expensive, to admit of a general introduction among all classes, nor is the mode of arrangement the best adapted to its reception into ordinary use as a work of reference." From that distant day to the present time, no attempt has been made to arrange and classify the theories and principles of Jefferson, so as to make them available in ready reference form. THE JEFFERSONIAN CYCLOPEDIA aims to do this to be a Manual of Jeffersonian Doctrine, accurate, complete, impartial, giving Jefferson's views, theories, and ideas in his own words. No edition of Jefferson's Writings, printed at either public or private expense, contains so comprehensive a collection of Jefferson's opinions as this volume. This fact will be clearly seen by all who consult it. Not alone to the American people, but to all peoples, are Jefferson's opinions on Government of deep and abiding interest. Among the Statesmen of all time, he is the foremost Expounder of the Rights of Man, of the unalienable right of every human being to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That is the object of all just Government, to preserve which Jeffersonian principles must be sacredly cherished. J. P. F. Brooklyn, July 31st, 1900. 82821 |