The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-08
The Mastery Address OF Lieut. Gov.
Bolkin Before the Unity Club
Tuesday Evening.
Sketch OF tho Man Whose Work
for His Country VIII Ever
Bear Fruit.
Iie DID Not Favor Mouarehy, hut He was
one OF tho staunch Defenders OF n re-
publicaa Government.


| Unity club. Tho looiu oF had evidently
chosen a subject IN which DO was deeply
Interested. Alexander Hamilton. and be
treated II With an earneatness and ontbusi-
asm that ca risd bis audiences with him in
full appreciation Of the value Of this great
patriot. The speaker fofestalled any Appli.
cation Of his remarks to present issues by
a pleasant aneedote. aud a positive assur-
nnee OF the absence Of any such intention
on his parl.
Oh Botkin said Alexander Hamilton
WA bora 80 the West Indies, Of
Scotch father and French Hugenot
mother. IN 1901 Both died in bis early
youth. AZ thirt en- he was sent 10 New
York TO school and graduated from Colum-
bia college at seventeen. he early showed
Bis literary abilities aud his taste for
military affairs. In IVA be was speaking
and writing in the cause Of the political
freedom Of the colonies. and in 1775 he als0
ably advocated tho industrial fesdom by
establishing manufactures and making this
continent sufficient unto itself. Thuseatly
he discussed the strategic policy Of the col
onies In the coming struggle. predicted the
assistance OF France. and was one OF the
most powerful factors in bringing about
the great struggle. lie took an active and
valuable part In the military operations,
both as Washingtons war secretary and in
the field. An interesting fact was his adVo-
cacy Of enlisting she negroes. giving them
thei freedom TO secure their fidelity and as
a matter OF humanity. His precedence Of
future events and tendencies was almost
superhuman, IalleJrand ascribing 20 him
ms his most cha aeteristio Gift the spirit OF
prophecy. He showed great bravery Al the
battle Of Yorktown and was subsequently,
made major general by Washington.
In 1881 the finances Of the confederation
we're in the most dsplorable condition.
without settled resources or credit and
Hamilton proposed and advocated tho ss-
tablishnsnt of a national bank. which was
adopted and gave the needed relief the
same policy adopted by the country eighty
years later. al the opening of rebellion.
This wonderful solution Of the nAtisn's
finances. thus used az the model in the
later years, was the wor'. Of young man
OF % years. The words applied 10 Pitt can
we'll be said of him
/ a sight to make surrounding nations stare.
/ An empire trusted TO a sohoolboy's care"
Tho great focal point of Hamilton's pub
| lie labOrs was nationality. and TO this he
addressed himself with unfAilinR sonsis-
tenoy fiom she start seeing far ahead of
tbs older men about him. In 1884 he for
mulated plan for a standing army aud
state militia, with . military aoad-
envy. foreshsdowinR completely our pres
ent peace military system. bat
congress, with she spirit Of separation
strong In H. would not adopt IL. In 1888 he
wrote; IL is essential 20 the happiness
and security of these states that their
union should be established on the most
solid foundations, and 10 is manifest that
this desirable object cannot be effected but
by a government, capable both In peace and |
war OF making every member of she union /
contribute IN just proportion 10 the com |
mon NJ osssities and of combining and /
directing the forces and will OF the several /
parts TO q general end" 1bree years prior
10 thir, in 1880, in a letter TO James Duane.
he recorded his oonviction in favor OF "a
solid ooereive union" recognized now "a
the first suggestion of oar present oonstitu-
tion.
In 1856, in the New York assembly, be
pointed out the very weaknesses in the
confederation, the absencs Of central
power able TO resist the most centrifugal
power. inherent in the Independent states.
which seventy five ysafs later vas the
forced construction placed upon our coneti-
t1tiOn which made the rebellion possib o.
IL WAS truly written OF him, lie could zee
oonsequsnts yet dominant IN their princi-
plss."
Hamilton has been. by msny. charged 10
faVoTiug "a MONARCHY, bot tnis charge IL
fully refutsd by his own payers. witch are
the best aeienses OF ropublicunism. Ha be-
lievad IN - Ong central government.
resting on the consent aud will OF the peo-
pic; but not ia a king. HIS great work
came in securing the ado ticn bY the stateG
OF the constitution. to which result he CON
u buted more than auy other ons pssson.
His wonderful essays IN the fsleiRlist, eI-
planning tie provisions OF that inetrnment
are vet great authority upon the subject.
Almost alone be carried, against great op-
position. New York for tine consultation,
which example secured the Z qaisits nam
Der OF states. In 1883 he WAS appointed .
secretary of the easuTy. under the const.
tuition, ~ Washington. lae task meant
ths c eating. without pfeo d0nt or guides
of a new hscal oiioY for new nation. Tue
nHtion had a national debt but no public |
credit. 4 BIO idea of repu 4iation was gain
ing erouni. hamilton successfully de-
fonted rspudiation. advocated luudins the
national debt ~ lowest rate Of in
terest POSSIBLE, the assumption OF the
state debts by the general government
ard the imposition OF impost and internal
revenue tax on wines aud liquors 10 meet
interest payments. In tLis last tie again
anticipated ths rolioy adopted two gensra-
tions later. The PAPER submitting these
propositions 10 congress has been estimated
80 she oblest state paror ever written. lie
IA Their advocated the issue OF pa per cur J
reucy by national banks with n thorough
ness Of dstsil 90 which ittls hRs been added
by the dikcuBtions OF the succeeding 100
senrs. lie 70 mulatsd the Ilau OF ma
tionsl mint and the coinacs Of both gold
ard silver a. money. lie made a most ex-
hauetvs report on the manufacturing IN
dusttisa. urging indnstfial II .edofu bF y o.
lection To- home industries. This policy
was then accented by special conditions. Ia
the uewuosa Of the country, aud in ths un-
favoratls attitude OF Enclgnd and other
foreign countries g. cur eKporta The idea
was not new TO him. as b. had advocate 10
~ I71f. Ito left the cabinet aud active
puu4.o o.. nt 70 ~ and devoted himself 90
h.a o. oi. -siou. tho Law, ga which he alan 9
among e ntlc.t ou thr roll OF American
ltNyo b. L. ng umont m he People v.
Crdsnr.l' cd nug. "a the law 81 criminal and
secuted tls rmRuoipnt uu ~ tito pres.
HriiaFsuu was . j HlouH siFal % hamil-
Ten. au4 sHri 10 .ued a faction divided on
ne roustrg t.ou of tlo powe gfanted 60
tho genera COVE umeut - the coustiiu-
tlor. e o.. suun rut vet entirely settled.
Aaruu Bars rivals term mated IN the IA
tai duel co. jaw n. 1914. a ferrib.e lesson %
hum rnlty and great check given 10 the
barlh ols o.. nct.cc OF duc INC.
HHmi tome patriotism aas q the most
exalted sLd intense Kind. To the founding
OF 90 atnation he zra.onaly Il setsd she
tower 90 % mind that seems supsrhuman
ga - subtletV. its peostrAuon ana lie COM
pass-A mind that could project uolic.es Of
81 heneleiunce tbat grow With the cycles
q. ~ ]