Editorial wrong on Jefferson
Your editorial, ”Thomas Jefferson would barf at Bevin’s call to bloodshed,” demonstrates your ignorance of history.
Jefferson wrote the following in his letter to William Stephens Smith: “The people can not be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions it is a lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty .... What Country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms.... The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.”
Far from barfing, Jefferson would applaud Gov. Matt Bevin’s long overdue remarks.
Ben Goldade
Dry Ridge
This story was originally published November 8, 2016 at 6:39 PM with the headline "Editorial wrong on Jefferson."