As for the renewed zeal of the Democrats in the interests of French revolutionary ideals, that found a special point of interest and concern for the Federalist clergy in the prominence which the rapid growth of republicanism secured for Thomas Jefferson. An ardent friend of the French Revolution, a lover of French philosophy, the enemy of religious intolerance, in personal faith a deist—were not these sufficient to damn the man as an unbeliever and an atheist in the eyes of New England clergymen, to whom the faintest breath of rationalism was abhorrent and the very notion of toleration suspect? Accordingly the New England clergy launched a fierce attack upon him as the arch-apostle of the cause of irreligion and free-thought.[268] In language carefully guarded, his name usually being omitted, Jefferson was pointed out as the leader of the hosts of infidelity whose object was the extermination of the institutions of religion and the inauguration of an era wherein every man should think and do that which was right in his own eyes.[269]
[224] Robinson, _Jeffersonian Democracy in New England_, p. i; Channing, _History of the United States_, vol. iv, p. 150.
[225] The term “Anti-Federalist” was born out of the struggle which developed over the adoption of the national constitution. The term “Republican” was one of the by-products of the discussion which arose in this country, from 1792 on, over French revolutionary ideals. _Cf._ Johnston, _American Political History_, pt. i, p. 207.
[226] _American State Papers: Foreign Relations_, vol. i, p. 140.
[227] The issues of the _Columbian Centinel_ for 1793 abound in addresses of this character.
[228] _Cf._ for example, the issues of the _Connecticut Courant_ for July 29, Aug. 5 and 26, 1793, and of the _Independent Chronicle_ for May 7, 16 and 23, 1793. _Cf._ Channing, _History of the United States_, vol. iv, p. 128.
[229] The _Connecticut Courant_ of May 13, 1793, contains the first announcements of Genet’s arrival which that paper made. Subsequent issues are fairly well occupied with accounts of Genet’s arrival in Philadelphia, the unconfirmed expressions of cordiality and heated enthusiasm which he encountered there, the congratulatory address which the citizens of that place presented him, Genet’s response, _etc._ In the issue of August 12 mention is made of the Frenchman’s arrival in New York. Thus far not the slightest trace of a suspecting attitude of mind is discoverable.