Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1907-12-09
Continued from Last Saturday,
The Remarkable Men

| ing the constitution to q body OF men,
Madison, in contribution to the
"Federalist,' stated that Il precedent
was established. tie cited many in
stances in Greek and Roman history
to prove that such work was invarl-
ably given into the hands of single
persons, and gave the reasons there
fore.
Fortunately for postcrity, this Con-
vention numbered among its nifty
hye members some of the greatest
men ON political science know to his
tory; men who had passed through
seven years of disastrous war and
five years of peace which was more
turbulent than PEACEFUL men who
wCrc determined that the independ-
JnCe wrcstcl from Great Britain with
SO much difficulty should not go for
naught.
! Preemnent among these stood
Washington, Franklin, Madison, aud
Hamilton; men to whom the welfare
Of their country as whole was the
chief consideration.
It was but fitting that Washing
ton should have been chosen tn pre-
lsidc over this important Convention,
mot only because of the high esteem
in which ne was held an esteem
which tended towards alteration
among the people. but also because
~ III.
though an arlstocrat by birth, with
an illustrious genealOgy, he was
nevertheless entirely free of that
prejudice against the common people
generally to pc mot with In men Of
his class at that time.
Behind an exterior coid and re-
served almost to austerity, he hid a
disposition MS imaginative rs it was
practical, and heart SO unsellish
and afrectionatc MS to call forth tho
involuntary love and respect Of the
few men that came to know him
well.
In Franklin, Pennsylvania possess
ed delegate whose wide experience
Of men and affairs was found invalu-
able. Although then past eighty,
this philosopher, scientist, and diplo-
mat eXertcd powerful influence
over the debates. debates which be-
came extremely heated at times, 50
heated. in fact, that Franklin de-
, SPARED of the delegates ever coming
to an agreement.
Madison, of Virginia, to whom
pOstcrity Is indebted for its extern
sivc knowledge of the debates, was
then but thirty-siX years of age. lie
was Il very StudiOus man, and before
the Convention began, had read all
the available books upon the subject
of government, and, among the many
eminent men at the Convention, he
was the acknowledged authority up
on political science. The Virginia
Plan, which went directly at the root
Of the Confederation defects, and
which the Constitution as finally
adopted most closely resembles, was
drawn up by him.
. Although of very diHdent dis.
position, he yet welded wonderful
influence over his cOmpatriots, and
so subtle was this influence that they
, were seldom aware of its significance
8 Alexander Hamilton, then at the
heighth of his powers. represented
New York in conjunction with Yates
and Lansing. He was an alien by
birth, but, when still youth at
Kings College had zealously taken
up the cudgeIs in defense OF the stant
taken by the Colonies against the
Impressions of Great Britain
Throughout the Revolutionary Wal
he had given valuable service as aide
and secretary to Washington, Il
whom he became sincerely attached
an attachment that was more rever
Icntlal than affeCtiOnate
lie was the most prominent lawyer
IN New York at this time, anC
| brought to the Convention mine
hand. But, Notwithstanding hi
brilliant qualities Of mind, an,
n cIOquence of speech, he lost influence
y lie favored a too strongly centrali2e,
government, an advocacy which tn,
majority of the delegates looked up
= ON with disfavor, his own colleagues
j. Yates and Lansing, being among thi
majority.
OF the many other prominent mel
at this Convention, 1t is unnecessar
to say more than that they were al
men of good, sound judgment am
experienced in governmental affairs
and therefore prominently qualife
to partake in the important wor
= before them. But most important q
all, they were all actuated by tn
. same powerful impulse, and that
l. the setting Of their government upo
Il firm and enduring basis.
It was Of course inevitable tina
|, there should be among the delegate
a few irreCOnCilablc spirits; me
whose mental vision did not eXtcn
beyond the selfish interests of the