St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-16
SKETCH OF HAMILTON.
Prof Fiske Interests a Large Aus
dience at Trinity Church.


''There was a mixture of Scottish
rudeness, with French vivacity in his
disposition, which most people found
irresistible" said Prof. John Fiske, at
the Unitarian church last evening,
in characteriZing Alexander Hamilton.
The church was very well filled,
with an audience made up of repre-
sentative people, and from the time the
lecturers imposing figure and grave,
heavily bearded face rose above the
pulpit desk till the last words from his
lips died into silence, he was accorded
the most flattering attention. His
lecture, beginning with brief sketch
OF Hamilton's origin and the events
which first called him into public life,
was philosophical as well as historical,
and treated the chief events of Hamil-
toms life logically and thoughtfully.
Hamilton and Washington parted
after the most trivial of ouarrels. After
successful campaign at Yorktown,
Hamilton returned to the law and was
admitted to the bar in Albany. Hamil-
ton was strong Nationalist. He was
interested in the country as a whole,
and the story of his fight for closer
union of the states formed most inter
IL o.
Hainilton's plan of government, as
placed before the Philadelphia conven-
ton, embraced as its principal; feat
ures the proposal that the president
and senators he elected by land owners.
and hold Office for life, and that the
governors of the states be appointed by
the president. After dwelling upon the
lack of Sagacity shown i'll this plan,
the lecturer commended Hamilton's
course in ratifying the constitution, al
though he only half approved 1t.
ITO none of her noble citizens" said
Prof. Fiske, 'does the Empire state owe
SO much as to Alexander Hamilton for
signing the constitution for New York"
Hamilton'S style he characterized as
plain and direct appeal to mems rea-
son, by which cold method he accom-
plished wonders. In regard to '.The
FederaIist," the speaker said, 1.-The
American people never had so high a
compliment paid them as having such a
book addressed to them" OF Hamil-
New York convention of 1888, Prof.
Fiske declared it was 1.-THE Waterloo of
anti-federation. Seldom has so great a
victory been won by the tongue"
Hamilton's career as secretary of the
treasury and his bold financial policy
were ably considered, and the state of
things which neceSSitated tariff for
revenue explained. Prof. Fiske is an
avowed free trader, but his discussion
of this part of Hamilton's public career
was unbiased. Hamilton proposal that
| the general government assume the
debts of the states, in the opin-
| ion of the lecturer, was the most
| important step taken by Wash
Ington'S administration. 1t was this
| policy, favored almost entirely9by the
North, that first drew the sectional
lines. OF North and South. Glass legis-
latioM, which threatened the govern
ment then, is still, says Prof. Fiske, the
| greatest danger to the country. sit is a
national misfortune" said ne, that for
three-quarters of century the actual
maintenance of the government re-
CURED theories which, if carried out.
would result III government very far
from being fol the people, of the people
| and by the people"
The Jay treaty and Hamilton's re-
sulting unpopularity. the auarrels of
Hamilton and Jefferson. the jealousy OF
Adams, Burr's intrigues. and the dra-
matte elimination of Burr's hatred in
the duel closed the biographical portion
| of the lecture. The possibilities of
Hanilton's political career, had heilived
longer, were dramatically considered,
ana in closing the speaker said:
! .'At the time of his death he was in