The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-09-16
ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

characteristics OF the Man WHO Marked
Out the Lines> Of American Govern
ment.
The most precocious young man Of
that day, save perhaps William Pitt,
he had already given promise of a
great career before the breaking out
of the war. He was born on the Island
of Nevis, in the West Indiee. in 1877.
His father belonged to that famous
Scottish clan from which have come
one of the most learned metaphysi-
clans and one of the most original
mathematlclans OF modern times. His
mother was French lady, oil Hugue-
not descent, and biographers have been
fond of tracing in his character the va
rious qualities of his parents. To the
shrewdness and persistence, the admin
istrative ability, and the taste for ab-
stract reasoning which We are wont to
find associated in the highest type OF
Scottish mind he joined truly French
viyacity and grace. His earnest
ness, sincerity and moral courage
were characteristics alike Of Pari-
tan and OF Hugaenoi. La the
course of his short life he exhibited a
remarkable many-sidedness. 80 gsea:
was his genius for organization that in
many most essential respects the
American Government Is moving to-
day along the lines which he was the
first to mark out. As III economist he
shared TO some extent in the shortrom-
ings of the age which preceded Adam
Smith, but i'm the special department
Of finance he has been canairi bv no
other American statesman save Albert
Galiatin. He was splendid orator
and brilliant writer. IN excellent law
yer and clear-headed and industrious
student Of political history. lie WI,
also eminent rs a political ieaier. al
though he lacked faith in democratic
government, and generous impa-
thence of temperament sometimes led
him to prefer short and arbitrary by
paths toward desirable ends. which
can never be securely reached save
along the broad but steep and ar
duolis road of popular conviction. But
with all Hamilton 5 splendid qualities.
nothing about him is SO remarkable Il,
the early age at which thes. were de-
veloped. At the age of fifteen bril-
liant newspaper article bron-h hit him
into such repute in the little island oil
Nevis that be was sent to New York to
avail himself of The best advantage,
afforded by the Kings College. now
known as the Columbia. lie hal II
first no definite intention of becoming
m American citizen. but the thrilling
events Of the time appealed strongly -
~ - ,o~..o.t haavt anI .,a.rarfffl intAlli.
gence Of this wonderful boy. At 4
gathering Of the people in New York
In July. liza, his generous blood
warmed. till rcsstless impulse
brought him on his feet to speak to the
assembled multitude. 1t was no conn
pany Of half-dranken idlers that
thronged about him, out an assem-
blage Of grave and responsible citizens,
who looked with some establishment
upon the boy of seventeen years, short
and slight in stature. yet erect
and CGsar-like in bearing. with
firm set mouth and great.
dark. earnest eyes. His eloquent
speech. full Of sense and without syl-
liable of bombast, held his hearers en-
tranced, and from thai das Alexander
Q0u0lltOll WAS IiuIhsi IlaH. AlG Ut
gan publishing anonymous pamphlets,
which were at first attributed by some
TO Jay, and BY others TO Livingston.
When their authorship was discovered,
the Loyalist party tried in s.,in to buy
off the formidable youth. lie kept up
the pamphlct-war. in the course OF
which he wofully defeated Dr.. Cooper.
the Tory president of the college: but
shortly afterwari he defended the doc
tors house against an angry mob until
the unpopular old gentleman succeed
ed in making his escape to British
ship. Hamilton served in the army
throughout the war. for the most part
as aid and secretary to Washington;
but in 1871 he was a Colonel in the line,
and storm,d redonbt at Yorktown
with distinguished skill and bravery.
He married a daughter Of Philip Schuv-
Ter, began the practice Of law, and in
1882. at the age OF twenty-five. was
chosen delegate to Congress. John
Fiske, in Atlantic.