The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-10-02
PORTRAITS OF THE FATHERS.

Hugh j. Hastings pessimlsilc views
of some of the founders of the Republic.
From Hastings "Ancient American
Politics."
THOMAS JEFFERSON: How true it is
that association and circumstances have
much to do in shaping most mems char
acters and moulding and forming their
opinions, whether religious or political.
While Jefferson resided in Paris during
the French Revolution, he partook Of its
intoXication. He was tlattered, dined
and wined by the leaders. They were
nearly all theorists, with extremely radi-
cal views He became fascinated with
Partisan manners and the new French
ideas in regard to religion, government
and philosophy He returned with i'm
pressions in favor of France and her
movement too deep to be obliterated,
and he found prevailing at home the
sentiments he brought with him.
GEORGE CLINTON: Mr.. Clinton loved
power and authority. Though sturdy
Democrat he regarded himself as sove-
reign of New York State.
EDMUND RANDoLPH: Jefferson says
of Randolph, "When he is with me he
is Whig; when with Hamilton, Tory /;
when with the President he is what he
thinks will please him." He adds, "He
is the poorest creature l ever saw, hav-
ing no color of his own, and rejecting
that nearest to him."
PHILIP SCHUYLER: General Schuyler
persisted in retaining his seat in the APP
pointing Board, but lost caste by his
selfishness, greediness, ebstinacy and
rapacity for office.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON: 1t was I'M
der the founders and organizers of the
government, and not under Jackson's
administration, that the doctrine "to the
victors belong the spoils" was first
preached. Hamilton and Clinton were
the first to introduce this system into
our pOlltlCS, anu llOJ buII.
AARON BURR: He regarded both
Hamilton and Clinton as being in his
way to promotion and, like most mer
raised to the Senate, foolishly began to
feel his way to the organization of a
personal party. This kind of hallucina-
tion has brought many public men to an
untimely political gave. 1t was the death
of Burr.
MORGAN LEWIS: Morgan Lewis. a very
inferior lawyer, was appointed Attorney
General to succeed Burr. Lewis was
connected by marriage with the Livings-
ton family, and the "old families" like
the old barons, were all powerful in
politics.
JOHN JAY: Pure as we are taught to
believe Mr.. Jay was, he was politician.
He had the Presidential fever. He
fancied that he might be called upon to
stand as the Federal candidate. He had
the weakness Of common clay, and
remained silent on the abolition of sla-
very when he should have had the cour-
age of his convictions and spoken out as
an honest and fearless Executive.
JOHN ADAMS: President Adams
vanity had much to. do with wrecking
the Federal party which inaugurated
and carried on the government for
twelve years, Fancy President of the
United States who, while his country
men weresin the temper of 1797-9S,
could in public address allude to his
having had "the honor" once to stand
in presence of the British King.
GEORGE WASHINGTON: "The Father
of his Country was made, perhaps, of
a purer and higher grade of clay than the
average great man of his time. He
was no, by any means a saint, and there
were saints no better than Washington.