The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-05

lied government, and there Is reason TO
believe that when the constitution was
framed he would have preferred some
form of monarchy. In his views of the
constitution he was a loose constructions
ist-that is, he believed in interpreting
the constitution in such way as to give
to the general government all powers not
specifically denied to 1t, or not especially
reserved to the states. He believed that
the implied powers" of the constitution
were very great Thus he regarded the
constitution as a flexible, an elastic in
strument, which might be bent or stretch
ed to fit and include any or all under .
takings of the United States so tong as
these undertakings were not positively
forbidden. This theory was based by
Hamilton upon that expression in Article
l., section 5, of the constitution which
grants to congress the power to provide
for the common defense and general well
fare of the United States" Out Of this
theory grew and upon it was based and
around it was consolidated the Federalist
party which never had an existence as
an organization until its elements crys-
tallized under the guiding inspiration of
Hamilton around his political philosophy.
A Strict Constructionist.
Jefferson, on the other hand, was a true
Democrat. He believed that as the peo-
pie are the source of political power. all
possible power consistent with an efficient
and effective government should be left
in the hands of the people. He was a
strict constructionist-tha is, he believed
that the constitution should be construct
ed according to it's precise declarations,
and that all powers not specifically grant
ed to the general government Nust be-
left to the decision Of the people or to
the separate states Out of these views,
so valiantly advocated by Jefferson,
sprung up the party of popular sover-
eighty, of states rigA.s, of conservatism
in the national government. Thus both
the party of Capitalization, of which
Alexander Hamilton was the founder, and
the party of popular government, found
ed by Thomas Jefferson, had their origin
in honest, but radically different, views
Their corner-stoneS were laid in the con-
stitution itself as differently interpreted.
Hamilton's views have been the basis Of
the Federal party of his own time and
Of its legitimate successors, the Wing and
Republican parties. Jefferson's principles
have been embodied from his day in the
Observation-Disclosures party Ito use It's
official title)-called at first the RepSh-
lican party, from the latter payt Of its
NAME and since the days of Andrew
Jackson called the Democratic party,
from the former part.
Naturally, Jefferson and Hamilton
found occasion for dispute over almost
every important measure that came up
for decision before the new government.
Perhaps it is well for our nation that
these two men did Tot agree. For had
Hamilton met with no opposition, he
might have so centralized the federal
power as to have made of 1t almost
despotism; had Jefferson hao his way he
might in those formative days have so
developed the ideas of popular SOW
ereignty as to have made an efficient gov
eminent impossible.
As Vice President.
After Washington comes John Adams
In the presidential chair, with Jefferson
as vice president. Here he had much IN
fuence, but no direct power, Adams,
however, had only one term, and Jeffer-
son was a candidate to succeed him.
There being no choice by the electors, the
duty of choosing the president devolved
upon the lower house of congress The
choice lay between Jefferson and Aaron
Burr. 1t seems like the irony of fate that
Hamilton should be the man to give his
old antagonist the presidency, and that
because of so doing he should lose his
own life But so it was. Hamilton kneu
both candidates. He disagreed with both
in politics Burr he believed to be thoA'
as unscrupulously ambitious. Jefferson he
knew to be honest and patriotic, as well
as great in intellect. He thought the
country would be safer in the hands OF
Jefferson than Of Burr. The struggle In
the house was long and bitter, and shook
our institutions to their foundations. IL
placed a greater strain upon the republic
than any other bloodless contest in our
history, with the exception of the cleo
ton of Hayes in 1876. At length, through
the strenuous exertions of Hamiltons the
choice fell upon Jefferson, and Burr be-
came vice president For this defeat Burr
never forgave Hamilton, and deliberately
plotted the Iatter's murder under the
euphonious name Of duel.
Made a Good President.
That Jefferson made good president
history bears witness. His name Will ever
stand as one of the four really great men
who. during the first century OF our ma
tional existence, occupied that exalted.
place. washington, Jefferson, jackson,
I.fncoln-these four, and by no means the
least of these illustrious names Is JEFF
- Copyright. 1900.