The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-19

the portrait, but those who then had
it in possession refused to seii it.
They claimed that one OF their an
cestors found the picture OIL a strand
ed and abandoned vessel on n Of
the reefs near Nays Head.
The anniversary of this famous duel
calls forth the following editorial from
the Washington Post:
Hamilton fought his duel with Burr
at Wheehawken, July II, 1904. He
was MORALLY wounded and died the
mex. day. The last week has witness
ed a revival Of interest in the life ana
fate of the man whom many critics
consider the most brilliant American
that eve lived.
There is reasonable ground to be-
lieve hat Hamilton's fame has receiv-
ed a larger access from the course our
national history has taken than his
actual achievements would fairly war
rant. For sixty years after his death
an earnest debate proceeded, growing
in passion until precipitated in war,
whether the United States is a nation
or not. Hamilton's pronounced views
in favor of a strong national govern
ment made him a sort of titular leader
for the whole school Of politicians and
writer's engaged in securing n de-
tending such a government. He was
more and more loudly acclaimed by
them for his wisdom and foresight,
and was just as roundly denounced by
those who contended the constitution
was the framework of a governmer,t
strictly ana definitely limited in. It's
power lie was ar object OF a.fmira.
ton and a target for abus.s Wffh
the settlement of the ques fon NJ ma
tionality his name is lsss potent To
charm with and ne Is, now looked at
AID judged more Cautiously. an it
may be added, with a closer approach
TO historical truth, He was for many
years seriously considered the father
OF the constitution by an immense
school at the north and heralded as
such. In the colder light Of today no.
thing could be more preposterous. He
sat in The convention for a few days
only. submitted the draft Of a plan for
a constitution totally without effect
upon n instrument as finally agreed
Upon. and left for home in a spirit
that savored Of dissatisfaction, II not
disgust. The truth is, his temper was
too masterful for that great body
which sagely conducted It's business
| after the My fashion that promised
success-one of barter and compro-
mise. He returned to the convention
in time to sign, n he undoubtedly
| did an admirable work LOT Its ratln-
caticn in New York.
In placing h government upon
solid foundation his strong and prac-
teal intellect had full play. His man
agement of the ~thronging problems
that grew out of the d~isordered fl
| nances of the revolution was in a high
degree striking, and Webster, speak
ing figuratively, was literal, too, in
saying: "He touched the corpse OF
public credit and it sprang upon its
| feet"
With W~ashington's retirement from
public life Hamilton steadily lost hold
| upon and influence with his own par
| ty, while the opposition had long
| since learned to detest him. He
| quarreled, one after the other, with
nearly every leading federalist, and
| his inability or unwillingnesS to &C
| cept In other than a dominating
| place in it's councils was one of the
| chief contributing causes to the
| downfall Of the federalfsts. He was
an essential Aegis to me-" Hamilton
wrote Martha Washington on the
death Of her husband. Facts had
| shown this. Sheltered behind the
great name and fame of Washington,
ne had carried on admirable work for
his country's welfare. Washington
dead. and left to his own resources,
he had fully demonstrated there was
something pronouncedly alien in his
temper and character. He has di-
vined Europe" Talleyranr declared
of him.. Here lay his trouble. He
knew and admired too much, n Mr..
Henry Adams capitaly retorts upon
Talleyrand that if Hamilton had df-
vined Europe, his antagonist. Jeffer-
son. had OWNED America. The ones
was a solid piece of divination; the
others, under the circumstances, i'm
practical and abstract.