The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-31
Hamilton and jefferson.

In the closing years of the eighteent h
century, when the American govern
ments were evolved, the two types of po-
lltical evolution were Hamilton ara
Jefferson. Hamilton's ideas OF govern
ment rest on two pre- rcpositions-that
government Ia device of checks and
balances, created by few thoughtful
men, and, under their control, supported
by many less thoughtful men, who are
protected by the devics, and prospered
in their affairs as a compensation for their
support; and secondly, that property is
the basis OF government. The New Eng
land formulation of the Hamlitonian idea
is: Government shall be one of laws.
not one of men"
Jefferson's ideas OF government rest also
on two main propositions-that govern
ment is probably necessary device, of
which the more you have the worse you
are off; and that government is founded
on persons.
Between Hamilton and Jefferson is
franklin, whose concept Of government
Is that ga general government is neces-
sary for US, and there is no form Of gov
ernment but may be a blessing to the
people II well administered
The eighteenth century was the GEN.
tury OF modern political theories. Their
influence is se n in the laanugage of ell
the American and French constitutions
of that time. Voltaire set the pace for
France, Jefferson for America; and Jeffer-
son is commonly called, In this country,
the father of American democracy. Ham,
ii toms and Jefferson's theories of govern
inent have been subjected for century
to the severe test which, in Franklin's
opinion, discloses whether q government
10 blessing or q curse to its people-the
test Of administration. The nineteenth |
century has been spent in administering |
the political theories of the ighteentb.
The process has been one of evolution.
marked by the emergence of two admin
strstive types-Daniel Webster and
A braham Lincoln.
When Webster died. Lincoln was In bis
Attn year. These years were the years of
Nebsters' Influence and fame. His ora
ions had become part of the worlds
literature; his eloquence had become the
'lory OF the nation. Yet no trace of
Nebster's influence on Lincoln exists.
The man, the voice. the argument, seem
'ever to have become part OF Lincoln's
world. Other public men of Lincoln's
nd of later generation have made q
tudy of Webster. 1t is not known that
lincoln ever road a line of his speeches.
he obscure Lincoln was as unconscious
( Webster as Webster was unconscious of
he plain lawyer of sangsmon Country.
Had they known each other, it may be
aid, they would have remained
trsngers. 1t would have been impossibls
'r them TO know each other as now the
orld knows each OF them. Each was a
1pe in the administrative evolution of
opular government. Webster was ad-
'ired, nut not loved or profoundly
listed by the people. Lincoln trusted
!, people, and therefore tho people ,
usted him. ,
Webster's reply to Hayne, and LincoIn's
cttysburg address, the one the longest,
10 other The shortest, speech OF i.s kind J
J our history. are also the most famed. y
Incoln's is lofty in sentiment ana fault s
rs In form; Webster's, less perfect In 8
rm, Is equally lofty in ,entiment, and {
e sentiment Of escn, "dear to every 4
mericsn heart, Is the liberty and union :
the nation. OF all utteranc,s in :,
rerica during this century we would
'st willingly let the'e two utterances
2. We cherish them because. trey Ia
ibody the dominant cause OF the cen. ~
ry in Americs-"w wbstner the new ma. N
N, conceived IL liberty and dedicated n
the proposition that sll men are created
ual. can long cndure.' This has btea "
e sdministrstive question Of American q
mocrsoy In trc nincteenta oentury-a n,
ution thst compelled answer Just 90 r.