Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-03-12
ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
The Great Statesman and Diplomatic
Eulo9ized by Sup't Millerof
Sandusky City.

Z
months could be easily grasped by the pa
irons. The fruits of the teachers were all Of
the choicest as manifested By these papers.
In the primary departments especially, were
the visitors astonished at the progress
made.
Saturday evening the services of Sup't.
Miller, of the Sandusky schools, were secured,
who discoursed on the life and merits of
Alexander Hamilton.
Preceding his lecture. short musical pro-
gram was rendered, consisting of a solo by
! w. w. Campbell, Mrs. Laura Strahorn ac-
companist, and a violin solo by Miss Luella
Higgins.
Sup't. Miller was introduced by Prof.
Weaver. The speaker is of pleasing ap.
peararce and possesses a we'll modulated
voice backed with brain well stored with
information-all of which go to make up the
man endowed with the power to sway his
audience and convert them to his belief.
His discourse necessarily in biographical
line was so replete with vivid portrayals of
Hamilton's master mind, his lofty character
and eminence among his fellows, as to be
highly interesting to the people who filled
the high school room. The audience con-
sisted of Napoleon's best material who all
pronounced the Grafton mastery effort.
A brief sketch of Hamilton's life as taken
from Sup't. Miller's elaborate address is here
found.
He was by birth West Indian, born in
1857, with father of Scotch, and mother,
French ancestry; he took the char acteristics
OF both sides in an eminent degree;-from
his mother, who was lady of rare beauty,
he inherited beauty of form and power of
logic: from the father an indomitable will
characterizing the Scotch. He was left in
early years to the care of his relatives by the
death of mother and financial embarrassment
of father; was placed in school at Vera Cruz
when his talents began first to show their
superiority. In 1869 he entered a counting
house and devoted himself so assiduously to
his work that every detail was mastered and
he was left in sole control one year during
his proprietor's absence on trip to America
His spare time was consumed in the study of
mathematics and literature, laying the
foundation of his future career. Here the
speaker digressed, showing how the good
power of his subject, Archimedes, Lytton and
others was derived - not intuitive-
ly, but by life time of study and repeti-
tion.)
While the mere lad he was, Hamilton said
II like not the groveling condition of a clerk
and would willingly sacrifice my life, though
not honor to exalt my condition, Intend to
lay the foundation for it."
| A fearful cyclone about this time swept
over the islands and shortly afterward de-
scription appeared in the newspaper of the
catastrophe, attracting universal attention.
Young Hamilton proved to be the writer, his
ability was recognized and he was sent to
school in America. Given the preference in
regard to his alma mater he chose Kings
College, (now Columbia New York, as the
only one whose curriculum and time suited
what he knew to be his mental ability.
| "Great men, said the Prof, ''are men who
took advantage of circumstances, as circum-
cumstances are not made by men, but for
men," The American Revolution was on.
Hamilton was perfectly free to go to either
side, for he was a native of Cuba. He
championed the cause of the colonies. While
still student he attended public meeting
and reaching the platform gained permis-
sion to address the assembly, making such
an impression that from that time was called
the ELOQUENT Young Collegian." Soon
after he was elected to the command of a
body of artillerymen and spent his last re-
mittance in placing it in such excellent con-
dition as to attract the attention of General
Green, who introduced the young officer to
Washington; and from that time the great
Washington and Hamilton were inseparable
friends. He was appointed aide-de-camp
with rank of colonel. He it was who did the
correspondence of Washington; he wrote
every letter from Valley Forge purported to
have come from Washington; he it was who
first advocated the Capitalization of power.
The friendship of these two great men was
broken for short time on account of Ham
ilton's tardiness of several minutes in an
appointment with the commander. Wash
ington sharply repremanded him, "recog-
nizing in it disrespect." "Sir," replied the
hot headed though in this case uniustly re-
premanded youth, ~ did not intend it as
such, but since you think it, we part" Know
ing his worth, Washington was unwilling to
accede to this, but Hamilton stood firm ask
ing that he be given an independent ap-
pointment. Washington could not do
and Hamilton retired from military service
to study law, which he was admitted to prac-
tice after but four months of application-"a
feat never before accomplished but by one
man and he was destined to be Hamllton's
slayer-Aaron BurrH
Hamilton married Elizabeth SCHUYLER, a
daughter of General Schuyler. Although
offered assistance by his father in-law he
would accept it not, but relied upon his own
ability. He at once sprang to the front
rank of practitioners at the bar-to aposition
which it took others life time to reach. His
vast information seemed to be stored in his
head in pigeon-holes with the brain in full
control. Said Governor Morris, "He was
equalled by no man of his age"
He was elected to Congress just as Rob't
Morris was leaving it in disgust. 1t took
but short time for Hamilton to also become
disguised and in conversation with Washing
ton he brouoht about n meeting at ANNAPOLIS