The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-11
AEU
HMg
ny RICHARD sp1LLANE.


and OF illegitimate birth. arrived in
Boston from the West Indies in octo-
Der, i7T2. His father was bankrupt,
and his mother was dead. For three
years he had been a clerk in mer-
chants Office in st. Croix. He had
been born In the neighboring Island OF
Nevis. His father had no particular
ability. His mother who was of HUI
guenot blood, had been married to a
Jew named Levine, but had been d.
vorced by him BY the decree Levine
was permitted to remarry, but she was
not. In disregard of the decree and
without sanction OF the church she
took James Hamilton as her second
husband.
The lad of sixteen was en- route to
New York. He was so precocious that
relatives OF his mother had made up
purse that he might have a collie
siate education. A description he
wrote OF the great West Indian hurri-
cane OF lf72 had made deep impress
SION, and II was felt that talent such
as ne displayed should not be allowed
to shrivel
me lad had Astounding confidence.
AFTER rev months in grammar
schooi a, klizabethtown. n. j., ha pre-
sented himself at Princeton College
and astonished the president nv an.
nouncing his Intention of going
through the courses as quickly as pos
sible without regard TO the regular
classes. Princeton would not hay.
him on those conditions. and he applied
to Kings College fnow Columbia un,-
yersity). New York, and was accepted
At eighteen this lad was writing 20.
litical pamphlets and newspaper ad-
dresses that were credited 10 the most
r. .a1,, 81
cause AT twenty he was lieutenant
colonel on the staff OF the commander
in-chief. Most OF those remarkable
documents that came from the camp OF
George washington and that won the
admiration Of all Europe were from
the brain of this lad. Al twentyfour
he led the storming party that cap
tured one of the redoubts at York
town.
But his real career. his greatness
lid not begin until after the war
,lcsed. History now ranks him with
Caesar and Napoleon as one OF
the greatest constructive statesmen
Of the world. At 49, he was the mas
ter spirit OF America. AT 40. his work
was done. He gave life and force TO
the Constitution OF the United States.
He ruled a great party and he IN
ruenced many great men. His pol
cies live to-day No man played a
larger part in shaping the destiny OF
the United States. At AZ. he fell Oh
the dueling field, shot to death by
Aaron Burr yice-President of the ma
ton.
RE was man Of amazing genius
and OF surprising talent IN many !
fields In only one thing was he lack
ing, belief in mankind. His CHER !
antagonist was Thomas Jefferson.
Hamilton had no confidence in the
common people He disbelieved in |
strong laws and were under the con.
troll OF powerful men Jefferson be-
lievcd in the people as a whole, and
his wonderful influence may be as
cribed to this faith. Hamilton acted |
the role OF the master at a time
master was needed. jefferson acted I
the role OF the friend. Hamilton was
respected as a man of marvellous In
teliectual force. Jefferson was loved.
1t Is the irony Of fate that Hamilton
had for the Constitution. that grear
instrument with which his fame is
SO closely interviewer, little confidence
and but scant respect. He expected 1t
to fail He had grave doubts that the
nation would endure. Two years he
fore his death he pronounced the Con-
stitution frail and rotten. There is
no more romantic figure in the carly
days of the republic than Hamilton.
No alien lad ever rose to greater pow
er or left a deeper impress on the
nation.
ROynlist MT First.
When Hamilton arrived in New York
all his sympathies were with England
and he had for the British Constitution
veneration which never waned. A
visit to Boston just about the time Of
the "Tea Party" however, and con-
versations with the ardent patriots Of
that city won him over to the Contin-
entail cause. and in July 1774, when he
was little more than II, he made
an address at big public meeting in
The Fields. now City Hall Park, New
York that attracted wide attention.
Next he was writing defenses OF the
first Continental Congress that were
so brilliant that John Jay got credit
for them. After Bunker Fiji he 1oin-
ed volunteer artillery corps called
the Hearts of Oak and drilled ear
~ In the morning in City Fill Park.
But II he was an ardent lover OF free
dom he was no less bitterly hostile
to all forms of lawlessness. Cypress