The San Francisco call., 1899-12-29

his talents and leadership that the
IiSnerS2nian iSc.5 T4iin republicans tnumPhed in
tersOn's administration Ina 1sOl Cal
iatin became the Secretary Of the
LIeaslIy' a position which ne held con-
tluuOusly uuder two Presidents until 1919.
Gallaun's policy i'm the treasury may bs
summed up in two wOrds-debt paying
anu TAX reduction. IL may be paradOXicat
tIat a nnance minister should expect 10
accomplish both these ends at once. Let
US see what political significance attaches
70 the pohcy ana how 10 was accom-
pllsheu. In studying Gallatin as a nnau-
cier one is led unavoidably to compare
nm with Hamilton. To the Republicans
hamlitOn was dangerous enemy 10 lib
trty. Ihey charged hir with looking
upOh - national DEBT as "a national bless
ing. The accusation was not lust. but 10
Was a fact that Hamilton had put the
United States under good deal OF debt,
ana n manifested no great anxiety 10
provide Tor Its immediate discharge. His
poIlucdl purpose was 20 attach 20 the new
government the rich and wcll-tO-dO, the
pahhlhs and the commercial classes. He
Cld not feel sure that men would support
the Government unless IL was TO their
pecuniary interest TO do so. But Gallatin,
representing the Republicans, looked upon
Il national debt as means and bulwark
OF corruption. He would lift its burden
let them be free 10 work out their own
destiny and 10 pursue their own way
without interference or patronage from
government. lie believed that men had
a natural desire 20 serve the state. Ham
ilton was pessimistic, Gallatin was opti-
mistic
Gallatin dealt with a revenue Of $40 600
OOJ-an absurdly small sum when we think
OF II In comparison with our annual ma
tional revenue to-day Of over 500 900 900. OF
his SlO60J,O0O Gallatin proposed 10 apprO-
PIRATE $1,3O0OO0 yearly 10 debt payment
At this rate he calculated that the inter-
est and principal Of the debt (then about
SeVVO,W0l would all be paid In sixteen
years. The sources OF his revenue were:
From impOsts, $500 900, lands and post
age, A5g 900. Federalist laws were adding
10 this $oJO.UyO from internal revenue tax.
But this was an anti-RepubliCau tax. and
Gallatin.s policy involved its abandon
ment. The Republican appeal 20 the peO-
pie in $500 had denounced such taxes, and
Gallatin's party was under obligation 20
repeal them. Taking out the receipts from
this hateful internal tax $3.50 00Ul. and tho
amount set aside for debt payment (N30U.-
O0O, Gallatin had left from his yearly rev.
enue 81 900 for the entire annual eN-
penses OF the Government. He allowed
$3.50, 900 for the support Of the army and
$4,000 for the navy, leaving about $780,
600 for the entire civil list. Such were JET
fersonian retrenchment and economy in
the days Of Jefferson. In less than eleven
years time, while letting the internal
taxes 60. and paying, unexpectedly, tho
full purchase money OF N3OWOOO for
louisiana sum equal TO one-hfth OF our
then existing debt-Gallatin reduced tho
public debt from SSOOOO.O00 20 Si5O0O.O0O.
Diplomat and Ambassador.
In 1913 Gallatin became one OF our five
commissioners To negotiate treaty Of
peace with Great Britain. His colleagues
were John Quincy Adams. CLAY. Bayard
and Russell. Gallatin was certainly tho
equal OF any Of his colleagues. and a
match for the best OF his opponents. AT
Client he showed well his self-cOntrOl.
sagacity. penetration. his skill Of diplO-
macy and his knowledge of European poll
itics. ITO Gallatin.' says Mr.. Stevens.
the study Of history was a passion. He
knew the purpose the tenor and the re-
suit of every treaty made for centuries
between the great powers Far more
than contemporaries ever supposed or II
now imagined say Henry Adams. the
historian OF his period. the treaty Of
Client was the special work and the pecu-
his temper. and with his temper he was
able 20 keep the peace between the perti-
nacious Adams and the iraseible Clay.
IL seems not too much 70 say that but for
Gallatin the mission might have failed.
Galatin's Later Life.
After the negotiation OF the treaty Cal
latin travelled Tor year on the continent
Of Europe In 1916 he became our EN-
bassador TO France, where ne remained
until 1870. Returning 10 America I'm that
year, he refused an appointment TO Mr..
Adams Cabinet: but in 1926 at the earnest
solicitation Of the President, ne consented
TO take Rufus Kings place at the court
OF st. James. Here he negotiated a COM
mercial treaty by which we received full
indemnity from Great Britain for viola
tions OF the treaty OF Client From 1S29
until his death in 1Si9 Mr.. Gallatin lived In
retirement. Throughout this period he
was constantly interested In public affairs.
and he occasionally published addresses
and papers OF great historical and political
value and Importance. In 1891 he publish
ed. as the address OF q convention a not
able memorial I'm favor OF free trade. for
which he was attacked as a foreigner
on the floor OF the Senate by Clay. In
1s45 he stoutly opposed the acquisition OF
Texas declaring the resolution OF annexa-
tiOn 10 be an "undisguised usurpatiOn OF
power and n violation OF the constitution
Gallatin was a man Of learning and Of
the spirit OF research. Like Jefferson. his
great eXemplar. he was a devoted friend
10 the higher education, and wherever
possible he used his public influence for
the advancement OF learning. His cOncep-
ton of public duty was ideal. To him. In
the truest sense. a public office was a pub
lie trust. He met every trust with fidelity.
and when he died. full OF hOnOrs as OF
years he left a name which has become
a credit TO his race.
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