The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-09-03
and considers IT the work Of man crazed with

and considers II tho work Of man crazed with
passion and bent upon revenge.
As is we'll known. Burr and Jefferson received
an equal vote at the Presidential election which
ensued. 30 that tho final decision fell to the
House Of Represe ntatives. The Federalists in
Congress. rendered desperate and reckless by
defeat, turned with avidity to the chance Of
snatching the Office from their arch enemy
Jefferson by giving their votes to Burr. and
there is little doubt that 1t was the powerful
Intervention Of Hamilton which frustrated the
project. This was the first but not tho only
waned rapidly under the ,enmity Of Jefferson.
ernorshp of New York. behind which rose the
possibility Of u Northern Conlcdcracy. phan-
tom evoked by the murmurs of secession which
England leaders Again Hamilton arose and
brought to anKn these f on BY SO dyd
ELECTION to Lewis. Burr's Democratic rival
Then twas that Burr determined upon re-
venge., Mr.. Lodge Is confident that vengeance
motive. innsmuch as killing Hamilton was not
likely to improve his own condition even though
Tiers had been Stronger Incentives to call Ham.
ilton out. but Burr ut that time held his peace
Now. however, his political fortunes were dcs-
make his position worse. There was, accord
ng an exchange Of stters and finally NAL
tested fact that Burr had come to Hamilton not
long before IN great ,peGunary DISTRESS and
osity, casts n deeper shade Of iniamy upon
biographer points out with sreditabe candor.
and Hamilton alike recognized; and BY
S aS ys s Burn Under acted YASh sr they
ance with his rights. Mr. Lodge cannot see
that Hamilton had any ground to complain
ted the binding, force of the ,duellsts princi;
pies. Oyer and over again, he had described
Burr IN lianYEGags which e. ne was y, well aWa r
in the field The fact that on this particular oc-
casion the words complained of might be CON
character awaited nothing. for Hamilton had
repeatedly used e fighting words in speaking
Of Burr. and the latter had right to demand a
reckoning for any sentence he might select.
Before he went to the fatal meeting, Hamilton
himself put on paper the reasons which forbade
he wrote. " to be in future useful whether in
resisting mischief or in eilecting good. in those
bss OF our p%abS sb which f s
tie9lnr" ApreiudieS in favor Of The so.eaod
but 1t is certain that the scnsc!ess slaughter of
famous statesman. tho useless, needless
sa r Fl nan OF splendid ABILITIES IN .hS
make 1t odious than any other event in Ameri-
can history.
Mr.. Lodge deals mainly in this volume with
Hamilton as q public man. but in the final
chapter he gives some details which throw
light on his personal appearance and private
life. In person Hamilton was well made. of
light and active build but very. small-indeel
much below the average height. His friends
were wont to call him the little lion" and it
is noteworthy that his dwarfed stature seems
to have interfered but slightly with his sue
cess as an orator. Inches of height and girth
were lacking. yet the man was full Of dignity.
His head was not only finely shaped. but mass
i've; his eyes were dark deep set. and full Of
fire. ne had q long, rather sharp nose. we'll
the characteristic of his features and his face
had piercing look even In repose, His defects
sprang. not from weakness, but from the
strength OF his passions. which sometimes
overnas;crel his reason. Thus it was in his
relations with women. which had an uncnvia-
Bile notoriety. 1t was passion too. that led him
into the unworthy proposition TO jay and into
his wild attack upon Adams. His errors were
the more dangerous because they werclcommit-
ted by II man OF such masterful influence and
abilties-by the man. in short whom jefferson
called the Colossus OF the Federalists."