The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-10-02
WHAT HAMILTON SOUGHT AND
TAUGHT.

Not long since the Messenger laid
before it's readers some specimens of
the opinions held by that great man
Alexander Hamilton, who was born a
British subject and could never out
grow his early preferences, convictions
and education. He was much of a
monarchist at bottom and but little of
a real republican (not of the latter-day
sort, remember.) Recently the pres
emit McKinleyite speaker Of the United
States house, David B. Henderson,
who is as arbitrary and sweeping in
his power as the former TSar in the
chair, Tom Reed, was speaking in Chi
cago. He stated that he advocated the
reelection of President Mckinley be-
cause he was strictly following the
ideas policy of Alexander Hamil-
ton" If this is true then the people
mustsbe on the alert, and be informed
of What Hamilton favored. 1t is a
time for instruction in political mat
tiers. If the people were better inform
ed they would tolerate less the princi-
pls and practices of the present time.
Let Hamiltonianism be we'll studied.
If Hamilton could nave prospered in
all his views-if he could have induced
the eminent men of his day to have
accepted his opinions as to a strong
government, to a senate for life and so
on, long before this another monarchy,
possibly modelled upon the best, the
British, would have been established
on these shores. But what was Ham
ilton's model that Speaker Henderson
says little Mas is copying and that is SO
pleasing the present Tsar in the house
of representatives. The Washington
| correspondent of the Baltimore Sun
sends extracts to his paper from the
most famous speech-of Hamilton, hat
delivered on 18th June 1881. before the
federal convention in Philadelphia.
Read wha follows and you will see
Henderson's drift and whittier Mckin-
ley is so rapidly tending:
After advocating a constitutional
provision fixing the term of office Of
the president for life Mr.. Hamilton
/ said:
II believe the British government
forms the best mode the world has
ever produced
".All communities divide themselves
into the few and the many. The first
are the rich and tie well-born; the;
| others the mass of the people.
The people are turbulent n
changing. They seldom judge or de-
termine rightly. Give, therefore, the
first class a distinct and permanent
share in the government
sNothinO h1f q norma mont hn6V can
check the impudence of democracy.
Their turbulent and uncomfortable dis
position requires checks.
1T is admitted o cannot have a
good executive upon a democratic
plan. See the excellency of the British
executive. Nothing short of such an
executive can be efficient.
The voice OF the people is sal to
be the voice of God, but this maxim
is not true.
"A democratic government of the
mass of the people a never be. good.
The British executive is above
temptation-he can have no distinct
interest from the public welfare. Moth
ing short OF such an can be
efficient"
He wanted a president for life, a SEN
ate for life, an ~aristocracy of wealth
and families, and had great contempt
for the people whom he derided and
spurned. Remember that when Ham
iluon spoke in 1887, the three Georges
had been in succession the execu-
tives" Of Great Britain, and thre
worse ones never lived in any age OIL
land. If YOU would un1 IL stand this
read Macaulay's History OF Eng
land" or better still because OF its full.
ness, its elaboration, read the fourth
volume of Green's great History OF
the English People" Read what you
see in Green and then turn to Hamil.
toms affirmation hat "a democratic
government OF the mass of the people
can never be good" and then in con-
nection read that eth British execu-
tive is above temptation" The
Georges lived and reigned by bribery,
and the third of the name was as de-
bauched a liar and political trade as
there was in the kingdom. Do the
American people desire to have Nc
kinley arr u Eamiltonianisn'