New-York tribune., 1908-01-12
CORTELYOU GIVES IDEALS
Sounds High Praise for Alerande'
Hamilton and Mr. Roosevelt.

Secretary Cortelyou of the Treasury Department
the guest of honor at the dinner of the Hanl-
ton Club last night TO celebrate the l5lst anniVer
sary of the birth of Alexander Hamilton Politics
conspicuous by its absence from the pro-
gramme, and there was Cortelyou Presidential
boom in evidence.
The Secretary, however, paid glowing tribute TO
President Roosevelt when he said: Some men may
differ with the policies of Theodore Roosevelt. but
the fact remains that he stands to-day as one OF
the greatest forces. both mental and moral, that
has appeared in the life of the American
nation"
Mr.. Cortelyou made strong plea for support for
the Alexander Hamilton Memorial Association
which intends TO erect statue Of Alexander Ham
ilton in Washington, the Treasury Building
He then spoke at length on the life and work OF
Alexander Hamilton
In opening his speech the Secretary pronounced
this estimate of Hamiltons worth:
If one were asked to designate from among, al
our history that one who most fully realized the
ideal we have in mind when We speak P OF = cola coL
instantly suggest itself the answer to the inquiry
Estimating Hamiltons work he said;
Hamiltons greatest work perhaps was ass done }e
most important office at that time. that of secre-
tary of the Treasury, then without funds What VIVA,
Most Of his recomnendations to Congress for the
BASIS WeTe EMBODIED N Statute law placing the
credit Of the nation on fGngdaoh b I1I tien Of
politics and even the agony ny ans ana exhaustion u q
His favorite idea for sustaining the national
credit and conducting the finances the estabils4 40 81
ment a bank. so well realized that Il at !.
Facted the admra ton and support OF men men wh9 @ al
nistc 1t is a tribute his financial ability and
foresight that. after the lapse OF so many years
lieve that eventually shall have 10 adopt again
some similar system
one Of the Oldest of American state papers. Nj
Cortelyou said. Hamton's report on manu-
adv theories
the encouragement Of manufactures by 1mposts'
and also by hounties- AS TO the lmposts THESE
theories largely affected legislation on the subject
of the public revenues from that time to the press
ent
one flaw he found in Hamt6n's character. but
he quoted from many leaders of that day to show
It was fault of the times OF this he said:
one may well wish that. with his great ahiIity- it
and patriotic ardor. Hamilton had also had Lin
time had such faith? Certainly none in the con
stitutional convention of whom there is record
Nj. Cortelyou drew this lesson from the life Of
Hamilton:
That honest differences Of opinion are perfectly
consistent WIN o 1he e abse is no forecast Of the
judgment of history as to motv9 or aGhieT
ambition 10 public service best series his country
End himself inset as Te 5n5 Men change With the passnS
cf the years but il the future as In the pas, W. W.
foever Ioyiy their station viii devote their tai
fortunes and their ives II HVtH
strengthen its institutions and 10 enhance It's glory
Others who spoke were Rollo Ogden, James Nc
Keen. the Rev. Dr. J. Howard Melish and eA-
Congressman William ] Coombs
Letters Of regret read from AnlhasSadoF
James Bryce ex-senator spooner, of Wisconsin
and Congressman Mccall Of Massachusetts
President Nicholas Murray Butler Of COLUMBIA
and Sanford H Steele president Of the Hamilton
Club also sent regrets.
MI Steele. who is III in the South sent me C'.''
= frame drawing Of the house on the Island Nevis
q, +be West Indies in which Alexander Hamilton
was born