Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-18
.sTba Earewell Address', of ~

times The Farewell Address OF tho
first President. one OF the noblest or
state papers, was written by Hamilton.
John Adams. when he became President.
bitterly inveighed against the influence
of Hamilton. Adams hated him, bat
nevertheless was swayed so much by
Hamilton that he declared that THE little
lion acted if he not only was leader
of the federalist party. the whole cabinet
OF the President. but the President also.
When war was declared against France
and Washington was summoned TO take
charge of the army Adams sought II
humiliate Hamilton. Washington had
designated the four men who should be-
major generals. Hamilton headed the
list. Adams put Knox first. Washington
refused his commission unless Hamilton
should lead. With bad grace Adams
gave in.
If Adams hated Hamilton the hate was
returned with interest When Adams
sought reelection Hamilton wrote BIT
ter attack on the President. which was i'm
tended for his personal friends among
federalist leaders only. In it he exposcd
every weakness. every fault OF Adams
without mercy, and with his marvellous
skill. Aaron Burr got copy of the lei
ter and used 1t to confound the federal
lists. In the election jefferson and Burr
influence OF Hamilton with the federal
members Of Congress jefferson was
chosen. Burr never forgot and nevcf
forgave.
The defeat OF Adams practically marked
the beginning of the end of the federal>t
party. Hamilton saw every conceivable
danger In Jefferson's rule
He had no confidence in the man and
little in the people He despared for the
republic and feared civil war would come
within few years.
Meanwhile he was the foremost lawyer
IN America. In New York his greatest
opponent was Aaron Burr. Hamilton aud
Burr ostensibly were friends. They dined
al each others house. were suave and
sooa natured TO each other and appearel
TO give and take i'm court and i'm the
arena of politics with good grace aud
without feeling. AS a lawyer and az a
statesman there was no comparing tho
TWO men. Hamilton lowered above the
other. In court Hamilton usually won
He had little of the magnetism. the charm
or the generosity of Burr but the
strength of his intellect the power of mi,
arguments was so great that he Won
even where his case was weak Burr on
the other hand. was less on appeal tn
reason than appeal to emotions. lie wa,
one or the kndeSt, one of the most low
able and one of the loosest living of men
lie could not refuse an appeal for aid
Beggars got in line when they knew he
was nearby. He always was i'm debt and
he always was in love- He was as small
and as slight as Hamilton. but like Ham
ilton, was one o: the handles of his DAYS
For women he had a great fascination
As politician he was adro;t Many
charses were made affecting not only his
morals but his honesty.
Hamilton too, was immoral Not SO
much is known of his affairs as Of Burr's
but there was not much to choose be-
tween them That they were rivals for
the smiles of one of the most famous
beauties of New York is certain, and that
i'm this contest Hamilton suffered defeat
is history.
Great as Hamilton was in hundred
ways, he was small I'm one. In a time Of
malignant politics he was as harsh i'm his
opinions and expressions regarding those
who disagreed with him as any of his CO.
tempOraries. In his correspondence he
abused Washington. For jefferson he had
the most vindictive OF terms. For Mon
roe no Characterization was foul enough
For Adams he spared nothing In the way
of harshness. For Madison he had such
bitterness that he suggested a duel.
or Burr he had said many things, and
to Burr he had done many things. In
fact, he must have appeared to Burr as
his evil genius. Far better cause had
been given To Burr to quarrel than the
one he selected. II was trivial. but liam
ilton handled the matter SO badly that n
Cooper, in an electioneering letter, de-
clared he had heard Hamilton describe
Burr as "a dangerous man. who ought
not to be trusted To this was added.
Il could detail to you still more des-
picable opinion which Gen. Hamilton has
expressed of Mr. Burr.
Burr, who was member of one of the
proudest families in America, being a
grandson of Jonathan Edwards, first
president of Princeton. wrote to Hamilton
to ask that he disavow or confirm what
Cooper alleged. Hamilton, without di-
rectly replying to Burrs question. wrote
several hundred words and sent them
back. Burr then insisted upon a reply
Hamilton said .dhe peremptory character
of BurrS demand made IT unnecessary for
him to do SO. Burr thereupon challenged
him. Hamilton asked for a months oe-
lay in order to CLOSE up his law cases.
July 1, 1894, the two men attended the
banquet of the Order Of the Cincinnati.
of which Hamilton was president. Ham
ilton sang the orders favorite song. The
Drum and Burr joined I'm the chorus.
Seven days later they met on the dueine
field at WeehawKen. At the first fire
Hamilton fell mortally wounded. Ham
iltons pistol Went off in the air. Hamil-
ton died the next day.
Burr, a wanderer over the face of the
earth lived many years. At seventy
eight he married the famous Nine. Jumel.
and another woman's heart was broken
when she heard of the marriage.
A foreigner. meeting him one day and
eager to know his opinion of Hamilton,
asked il Hamilton was gentleman.
Sir Numbered the old man as his
faded eyes lighted up with some OF the
old-time fire, sir, ] met him.
downright 1910 bv Richard SpillaneD