The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-05-09
Does Alexander Hamilton Sleep?

Does Alexander Hamilton Sleep?
Every year at this season, statesmen,
senators, lawyers, orators and the mag
aZines join in paeans of praise to
Thomas Jefferson. This year the cho-
rus is particularly rich because in it
are heard the trumpet tones of Theo-
dore Roosevelt, president, politician,
hunter, statesman, leader of both the
simple and strenuous life, wielder of
the big stick, writer, essayist, histO-
rian and other things too numerous to
mention. Not to the party that breaches
the duty Of conforming to his doctrines
IS the praise OF Jefferson confined, but
Socialists quote him but to praise; and
Republicans acknowledge his great
liess by ~justifying their deeds in the
light of precedents he established in
theory and practice. While forgetting
thath he set Cuba as the farthest limit
Of our expansion they have no hesita-
ton in citing the purchase of Louisi-
ana as a warrant for the Philippines
forgetting that he acknowledged he
had 10 constitutional warrant for what
IN NlNt tLCy plSOtt LILO SAOIIpiS 90 tlN
raw youth showed bad spelling was
lot to be condemned because Shake
speare did not know how to spell his
name.
The tributes to Jefferson are Won
derful in number and variety, but why,
are none laid on the grave of Hamil-
ton? He was ~JeffersOn's living antag-
Gnist, his doctrines were also left in
charge of a party. To his precepts Re-
publicanism has "lOyally" conformed
itself-on his theories Republican gov
eminent stands like a rock and ne
Democrat has been able to push the
mighty structure from its foundation
laid deep in. the minds Of past genera
tons. Why should not his disciples
honor the memory Of Hamilton as
Democrats delight to honor the men,
Dry of Jefferson? Why should not the
American people be taught to rejoice
in the craftsmanship Of this founder
| of a party who really dictates from his
grave the policy Of this nation today?
That he does we cannot doubt. We
| have the concentration of the powers Of
government, the government by the bu-
reaucracy, the strong military estab-
lishment, the expansion by the addition
of dependencies.
For generations the teaching and the
practice of Jefferson were the text
books for American Statement. Then
there came a change; Jefferson is now
| honored with the lips, but in nothing
is his example followed by those who
| govern us and %habitually apply to
themselves the terms denounced by
| Jefferson as the emblems and accOmpa-
! niments of all he denounced. Did he
/ model the inauguration ceremonies af-
ter coronation professions? Did he suf-
fer himself to be addressed as the
'ruler?" Did be demand loyalty" and
was he fattered by those who offered
it?- Did he ask for the maintenance
| OF a great military establishment? If
| be asked for the nourishment of sin
| FAINT industries did he not expressly
| declare that he would give government
| help to no adult business enterprise?
| In all things and in everything this is
now a Hamiltonian rather than a JET
fersonian government, and it has been
| so made within little more than a gen.
Grafton.
But, while following Hamilton, those
who make u government eat no din
nerS. drink no wines and make no
speeches in his honor. Why? Because,
they realize that JeffersOnianism is
still lear to the hearts of the people
because the name of Hamilton is yet
n they fear. Because those who fol-
low Hamilton have no desire to 10Y
their master in the light OF day; be-
cause even R%epublicanism is not yet
bold enough to face the charge of
Change" after half a century IF Ham,
iltonion practice. When will Republic
cans drop their mask -Times-Union.