The Washington weekly post., 1900-09-11
TRIUMPHS OF HAMILTONIANISM.
70 Does Sef Merely ssThreaten" This Csaa-
try, Ii Has Conquered IL.
From the New York Press.

tfts IL ttatacfSe hs
From the New York Press.
The Western journal which Is trying TO
make a new issue out Of 'sHamiltonian-
ism" (why not Hamiltonism0 has good
deal more 10 5e frightened about than It
seems to realize "Hamitonianism" does
not merely threaten" this country. 1t has
conquered IL. Its greatest victory was in
the surrender at Appomattox, where
Grant and Lee ended their part of the
great duel begun in Washington's Cabi-
net as to the strength and supremacy OF
the Federal government, It's latest was
when the Democratic party virtually
abandoned at Kansas City its long and
losing battle for low tariff. Mckinley
and Dingley had welded the Hamiltonian
brand. the mighty excalibur OF Federal
ism. as surely against the hosts of free
trade as Grant had against the hosts Of
State rights.
But these are only the modern victories
of 'Hamiltonianism." John Marshalps
centenary in appointment as Chief JUS
tice we are now approaching. 1t ought to
be celebrated with heartfelt praise and
prayer. If ever there was an evidence of
the existence OF God who has made
and preserved us a nation" II Is In the
guidance of John Adams pen to ill and
sign the commission that left the Consti-
tuition IN this mans hands during the
years when Jeffersonian Democracy was
without opposition In the country. But it
was simply 'Hamiltonianism' that In
formed the long line of decisions so lately
demonstrated before the National Bar AS
sociation as making the Constitution
something more than collection of hish-
sounding maXims of government Such il
would have been undoubtedly had the in
depreciation of each section been left, not
to the court as Marshall successfully in
sisted, but to the coordinate branches,
each-President Congress, and judiciary
being a law unto itself in its own domain
But he was not fnfusing ''life into the
barren clauses of the Constitution" That
the genius of Hamilton had done in the
Washington Cabinet. His genius as a ju-
rist was simply keeping 1t there during
the generation when 1t was in danger of
extinction.
These are minor but marked Instances.
When Webster smote Hayne, when Clay
clashed with Calhoun, IL was the great
excalibur again, the brand of Hamilton
ianism" that was in his hand Each was
| fighting out the old duel. 1t ended per Sc,
through the men themselves, when the
| Secretary OF State left the first Presidents
Cabinet in disgust at his chiefs perpetual
domination by the Secretary of the Treas.
ury. II has continued per alois, through
the adherents of the two schools of strong
government and weak government ever
since.
Our contemporary is right Hamilton
ianism' threatens the country. 1t prom
ises completely TO possess the country
The last vestige of the Jeffersonian ira
dition-that this land was destined for a
thousand years to be a peaceful agricu!-
tural polity, shipping its farm products
abroad, receiving manufactured goods in
return. and abstaining fror1 all political
contact with the great werId beyond its
borders-is likely 10 be effaeed in the COM
ing election. But there need be no worry
on that account. 1t will be, we trust. the
fnal, but it will be among the least of the
victories of 'Hamiltonlanism-" They were
something more than Bryans-they, from
Jefferson to Jefferson's namesake, Davis,
were no mere rhetorical stump tricksters
whom II has vanquished in the past.