Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-10-10
Alex. HamiltOn's Model.

In recent speech in Chicago Hon.
David B. Henderson, Speaker of the
House of Representatives, said that
he supported President Mckinley
and advocated his reelection because
Mr.. Mckinley is strictly following
the ideas and policy of Alexander
Hamilton.
The following extracts from Que of
Hsmilton's most famous speeches, de-
ivered June Is, 1872, before the Fed
eral Convention at Philadelphia, will
fully illustrate Speaker Henderson's
meaning.
After advocating constitutional
provision fixing the term of Office of
the President for life MIR. Hamilton
said:
81 believe the British Government
forms the best model the world has
ever produced.
Cali communities divide themsel-
yes into the few and many. The
first are the rich and we'll born, the
Others the mass of the people.
"The people are turbulent and
changing. They seldom Judge or
determine rightly. Give, therefore,
the first class a distinct and per-
manent share in the government.
Nothing but permanent body
can check the impudence of democ-
racy. Their turbulent and uncon-
trollable disposition requires checks.
at is admitted you cannot have a
good executive upon the democratic
plan. See the excellency of the
British executive. Nothing short of
such an executive can be efficient.
"The voice of the people is said to
be the voice of God, but this maxim
is not true.
ga democratic government of the
mass of the people can never be good.
"The British executive is above
temptation-he can have no distinct
interest from the public welfare.
Nothing short of such an executive
Can DC enclent.
Commenting on the above the Bal
timore Sun says: "The Alexander
Hamilton theory of government has
captured the present Administration
and if it goes unrebuked, it will not
be long before it will make itself APP
parent in form as we'll as in sub
stance. The question is whether the
people are prepared to indorse the
substitution of the Alexander Ham
ilton idea for the democratic idea
embodied In our Constitution.
"What the Hamilton idea involves
he himself stated with refreshing
frankness. If the people agree with |
him and President Mckinley, his |
lineal political defendant and heir, |
that the erich and we'll born" should |
have control of the government, that
the masses should have little or no
voice In it, that democracy is ''impu-
dent" and requires checks, and that
"a democratic government of the
masses can never be good" they
should vote by all means for McKin-
ley. There are some so called dem
ocrats who agree with Hamilton and |
the republicans that the people are
not to be trusted and that only the
erich and well-born" should control
public affairs. These men are not
democrats at heart, but Hamilto.
mans, and they naturally support the
republican party in the present cam
paign. They have no sympathy with
the masses and no confidence in
them. They are aristocrats like
Hamilton, not democrats like Jeffer-
son. The whole theory of demo-
cratic government is repugnant to
them while the Hamilton class idea,
Is one which appeals to all their
and preferences. They
admire and reverence everything
English, and admire things at home
only so far as they conform to En-
glish models. They properly belong
In the Misunderstanding party.
They have a perfect. right to their
opinions and preferences, but when
they call themselves democrats thew
are guilty of a gross error in self
classification. They are Hamilto-
mans, with belief in the superior
ity of the erich and well-born' and
Of government by the few rather
than by the many.