, 1889-05-02
COULD HE BUT SEE.


tion OF nm estate or the execution OF pol
itical offender, /, create and grant home
rule and state sovereignty to twenty nine
additional common wealths, and yet en-.
large its scope and broaden its power, aud
to make the name OF an American citiz'n
title OF honor throughout the world.
came CON plete from this great convention
TO the people for adoption. As Hancock
rose from his seat in the old congress,
eleven years before, to sigu the Declara-
ton OF Independence, Franklin saw en-
chair the sun partly above the horizon,
but it seemed setting
IN A BLOoD.RED Sky.
During the seven years OF the conteder-
alton he had gathered no hope
from the Rlittering emblem, but
nov as with clear vision he be-
held fixed upon eternal foundations the
enduring structure of constitutional liber.
ty, pointing to the elm. he forgot his
eighty-two years, and with the enthusiasm
of youth electrified the convention with the
declaration: Nov know that it is tn
rising SUM-"
The pride of the states and the ambi
ton of their leaders, sectional jealousies,
and the overwhelming distrust of central
lied power, were all arrayed against the
adoption of the constitution. North Caro-
lima and Rhode Island refused TO join the
Union until long sfter Washington in
auRuration. For months New York was
debatabe ground. Her territory extend.
ing from the sea to the lakes made her the
keystone of the arch. Had Arnold's trea-
son 10 the Revolution not been folled by
the capture of Andre, England would have
held New York and subju0atsd the colo
hes, and in this crisis, unless New York
assented. a hostie aud powerful common
wealth dividing the states, made the
Union impossible.
Success was due to confidence in Wash.
ington and the genius of Alexander Ham.
ilton. Jefferson was the inspiration OF in
dependence, but Hamilton was the incar-
nation of the constitution. In no age or
country has there appeared a more pre-
cocious or amazing intelligence than Ham.
ilton. At IL he annlhllated the president
of his college. upon the question of the
rights OF the colonies, in a series of anony
Ilous articles which were credited to the
ablest men in the country; at Al, when he
died, his briefs had become the law of the
land, aud his fiscal system was,
the rule and policy of our govern
ment. He gave life to the corpse OF ma
tional credit and the strength for self.
preservation and aggressive power to the
federal union. Both as an expounder of
the princip pies and an ad dministIator of the
affairs OF government he stands supreme
and unrivalled in American history. His
eloquence was so magnetic, his language
80 clear. and his
REASON 80 IRREsIsTIBLE,
that he swayed with equal ease popular as-
semblies, grave senates and learned judges.
He captured the people of the whole coun-
try for the constitution by his papers in
the Federalist. and conquered the hostile
majority in the New York convention by
the splendor of his oratory.
But the multitudes whom no argument
could convince, who saw in the executive
power and centralized force Of the consti-
tuition, under another name, the dreaded
usurpation of king and ministry, were
satisfied only with the assurance, Wash
iugton will be president" Good" cried
John Lamb, the leader of the sons of
liberty, as he dropped bis position; ''for
to 70 other mortal would trust authority
30 enormous "Washington will be
President, ;" was the battle.cry of the con.
stitution. 1t quieted alarm and gave
confidence TO the timid and courage to the
weak. The country responded with en-
thusiastic unanimity, but the chief with
the greatest reluctance. In the supreme
moment OF victory, when the world ex-
pected him to follow the precedents of the
country would willingly have left in his
hauds. he had resigned aud retired TO
Mount Vernon to enjoy in private station
his well earned rest The convention
created by his exertions to prevent, as he
said, 'the decline of our federal dignity
into Insignificant and wretched fragments
OF empire" had called him to preside
over its deliberations. Its work made pos.
sible the RELAXATION Of his hope that, I've
might survive as an independent repub.
lie, and again he sought the seclusion Of
his home. But, after the triumph of the
war, and the formation of the constitution.
came the third and final crisis; the initial
movements OF government which we're to
teach the infant state
THE sTEADrER STEPS OF EMPIRE.
He alone could stay assault und inspire
confidence while the great and compli-
Gated machinery Of organized govern ment
was put in order and set in motion.
Doubt existed nowhere except in his mod.
est and unambitious heart. my move
ments TO the chair of government" he
said, will oe accompanied bylfeelings not
unlike those OF a culprit going TO his place
OF execution. So unwilling am |, in the
evening OF life, nearly consumed in public
cares. to quit peaceful abode for an
ocean OF difficulties, without that compe-
tency of political skill, abilities and incli-
nation, which are necessary to
manage the helm" His whole fife has
been spent in repeated sacrifices for his
country's welfare, and he did not hesitate
now, though there is an undertone of in
expressible sadness in this entry in his
diary on the night of his departures:
About ten o'clock bade adieu to Mount
Vernon, to private life, and to domestic
felicity, AMI with mind oppressed with
more anxious and painful sensations than
| have words TO express. set out for New
York with the hest diapoaitiop n va,,d ar