New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-19
NEW PUBLICATIONS
GALLATIN.

.,,,,,,-, c,Ir,TTg By JOHN AUSTIN STEyENs
American statesmen sertesl l0lnO PIP 9I'' h''A'
ION, Mlfhn Co.
II cannot be said that the name OF OF Albert ".''
.in il popularly identified with any positive IF'N''
niles of government any clear line OF poH''' 81,
the names of Hamilton and jefferson are ms '.o>I
triIiant services to the country as lra'ncaI
administrator rather than party leader AZ" -
there are few Of our public men to whohi' h'oic
readily than 10 him. history applies the nlie Oh
statesman in its highest and strictest sense Leu
mo saw wrote Judge Story, " he is truly great
statesman. rank him side by side with AieAah-
der Hamilton" The explanation Of TINS appaI-
ont anomaly is indicated by Judge story IN Ihe
same letter from which this quotation is J"heH'
Galatin besides being man OF genus WIS us
tinguishcd for a purity of character 'ha' ~ do
yslnable in q politician as it is rare" lie hao ule
courage the common sense, and the self-dehlh u
acknowledge even his own political mistakes anu
was too modest and too patriotic to seek CONSISTENCY
at the expense of the country. lie ehtcIeu Non-
crcss with reputation which it would perhaps not
he harsh TO define as that of foreign adVentuIer,
only notorious for connection (which he admitted
20 he Great bIuudcrl with the Whiskey lnsurIec-
ton and his course on many of the questions OF
the day was both mistaken and unpopular;
lint he became almost Immediately, through
his force of character, his dignity Oh Pui-
nose his adrOitness, his industry niS
eagacity, and his personal uprghtncsS' inc ie"uVi
OF the Republican opposition and the most loi 'iu
able adversary of the great tedeTallSt party Ill INC
last years Of its existence. WITH jefferson anu
Madison be formed tTiumvrate whlch aller over
throwing the FederastS, ruled the country 1or SIX
teen years. and demonstrated i'll It's own pracuceS
the fallacy of its principles
In oppositon Mr. Gallatin had been especially ear
,,f ha
Hamilton; but as Secretary Of the Treasury lie
made n splendid fame in carrying out the substance
of Hauilton's plans 1t was characteristic OF Oal-
latin that he knew when circumstances demanded
modification of prjon theories Inc
financial system of Hamilton was intimately
associated with the principle OF nationality
in politics. Gallatin did not believe ID
the nolitics but he was too able Il tnancer 10 az
tempt revolution of the Treasury policy ON tha'
account The principal features OF hs own aduiih-
istratiOn were a rigid insistance upon spccuic ap
preparations so that the House OF Representatives
could control the expenditures in every branch OF
the public service. and steady reduction Oh 'he
debt "Thc maXims which he announced, says
MIR. Stevens that debt can only be reduced 10y
surl,Ius of revenue over expenditure, and the ac-
compartment of every loan by an appropriation ior
its extinguishment, became the fundamental piIh-
eiple of American finance. Mr.. Gallatln was uni
formIy supported i'll it by Congress and pubic
opinion. 1t was faithfully adhered TO by his d'S-
tinguished successors Dallas and Crawford and
the impulse thus given continued through
later administrations. until, in 1927, twenty
years after the peace the entire debt had been eA-
tinguished. All this without any other variation
from Mr.. Gallatins original plan than an increase
of the annual appropriation to the sinking 1uhd
for its reimbursement from eight 20 ten millions"
The greater mart of Mr. Stevenss frank, simple
and straightforward book is devoted to careful
narrative of Gallalin's financial administration and
next in importance this is the excellent chapter
devoted to GalIatn's brilliant diplomatic services
The party quarrels and combinations IN which he
was for so many years a principal factor are
treated with less minuteness, but doubtless with as
much as they deserve; and the study OF an honor
able and attractive character is completed by some
interesting pages of personal and domestic history