The San Francisco call., 1899-12-08

like rapid PACE. until the crisis in politics
drew him into public life in l774. two years
after his arrival. The war OF his bOyish
wish was coming and he took sides with
all the .ervid enthusiasm of his nature.
An impromptu and strangely successful
speech at a patriotic meeting in the ncld
OF the New York suburbs first brought
him into notice, but he won more perrna-
nent notoriety by the newspaper letters In
which he entered the lists against the
leading loyalist talent OF the colony-an
agency then used by the ablest men 10
guide public opinion and form OF con-
troversy in which Hamilton throughout
his life had no superior Tempting induce
ments to change sides-a strong tribute
TO the boys power-were steadfastly re-
fused, OF course, while at the same time
Hamilton showed his fine disdain OF pOpu-
lar favor by gallantly opposing mob vio-
lence toward the Tories with all the
hatred of anarchy that was 20 mark his
later career.
AS war clouds thickened he set himself
to study military science, and when New
York raised company OF artillery. in lII6.
his proven fitness secured him the com
mand. The excellent discipline of his COM
pany, rare enough in the mOblike Conti-
mental army at that stage, soon caught
the eye OF Washington. Hamilton had the
perilouS task or guarding the rear in the
mastery retreat from Long Island. He
distinguished himself at White Plains.
and after the terrible campaign closed by
Trenton and Princeton he accepted an ap-
pointment upon Washingtons staff while
still year under age. Here his chief reg
ular work was the management OF the i'm
mense correspOndence of the commander
in chief Hamiltons gay, buoyant tenn
per. even in the gray winter at Valley
Forge. brought him the adr1iring friend
ship Of his associates. and especially of
the foreign officers. young and old. and
his trenchant pen, sound sense and quick
decision were highly valued by Washing
ton One would be glad to recount that
admiration for the grave and stately gem
eral who bore upon his shoulders the fate
OF a continent. but the evidence is lack
ing.
Conservatism - Conflict With An
archy-The Struggle for
Stronger Government.
In the midst OF the war Hamilton had
met wooed and won a daughter of Philip
Schuyler. Immediately after Yorktown.
the war now plainly over. declining with
graceful dignity repeated offers OF finan-
cial assistance from General Schuyler. he
set himself TO earn livelihood for his
wife and babe. and four months rapa-
eious study admitted him to the New
York bar, where he at once rose 10 the
highest eminence.
An election to the decaying Congress
Of the confederation OF l7S2 and his few
months futile battle there. along with
Madison, against the inertia OF the bulk
OF the members and the distressing condl-
ticn OF the times. Is memorable only be-
cause this experience seems TO have gone
far toward establishing the deep distrust
OF democracy and the ardent desire for n
strong central government which were 10
be the controlling ideas OF his subsequent
public life.
To appreciate this later work we must
bear in mind certain facts not altogether
pleasant for an American to contemplate
Not merely was our Government marked
by political disintegration at home and
treated with deserved contempt abroad.
Our whole society was equally dIsorgan-
ized The most vicious results Of he cid
colonial system had been the fostering
among our people OF a general Incidence
a dislike for business methods and an an
tngonism 10 law manifested In universal
smuggling and in the refusal OF juries to
convict for such offenses. The last twenty
years had tremendously augmented these
evils The mob methods of the ten years
pre-revoution contest. however neces-
sary would have demoraliZed any people
To refuse obedience 10 the courts 10 re-
fuse to pay Just debts. to boycott officers
OF the law. to disgracefully abuse them
to tar and feather conservative citizens
who ventured to critlcise such proceed
ings. to terrOriZe society through its law
less elements in tavern committees and
nocturnal vistations-all this had been 10
no slight extent the evidence and con-
comitant of patriotism. Then these re-
grettable anti-social tendencies had been
intensified OF course by the long war,