The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-02-26
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No man stood closer to him In his pur-
pose to strengthn and give prestige to
the government than Hamilton and no
man was able to discover the means with
surer genius. Hamilton knew who the
well-wishers of the new government
were. whence It's strength was TO be
drawn. what II must do TO approve 1t
SELF great. with an insight and thorough
ness Washington himself could no,
match, for Hamilton knew Washington
and the seats OF his strength In the
country as that self-forgetful man him
SELF could not; He knew that 1t was the
commercial classes OF the country-such
men as he had himself dwelt among at
tho great port at New York-who were
bound by self to the new gov
policy In trade, In the stead OF policies
n half score; and that the men who were
standing 10 It's support out OF a reasoned
prudence, out of a high minded desire
to secure good government and a place
OF consideration for their country among
the nations OF the world were indlvid-
uals merely, to be found only in small
groups here and there. where a special
light shone In some minds.
A MAN OF INITIATIVE.
He knew that Washington was loved
most for his national character and pur-
pose among the observant middle classes
OF substantial people in the richer coun-
York and New England. while his neigh
bors In the south loved him with in
divldual affection only, and rather as
their hero than as their leader in af-
fairs. He saw that the surest way to
get both popular support and interna-
tional respect was TO give TO the gov
ernment at once and in the outset d
place Of command In the business and
material interests of the country. Such
policy every man could comprehend.
and a great body OF energetic and in
fluential men would certainly support;
hat aly -,,,ll ,lya x,.A
seem real from the frst-a veritab BILE
power, not an influence and shadow
merely.
HAMILTON'S PLAN.
Here was man unquestionably. who
had quick genius in affairs; and Wash
inston gave him leave and initiative
with such sympathy and comprehension
and support rs only a nature equally bold
and equally originative could have been
given. Hamilton's measures jumped with
lngton's perception OF national interests;
and they were with Washington's aid
put INTO execution with promptness and
decision which must have surprised the
friends OF the new government no less
than 1t chagrined and alarmed its enc
mics,
Having done Its work OF organization
during It's first summer session, the con-
1880 TO attempt the formulation Of a
policy. o! government. and Hamilton at
once laid before It a plan for the set,
tlement OF the public debt which he had
drawn and Washington had sanctioned.
He proposed that provision should be
made Tor the payment of the foreign
debt In full-that OF course; that the do
nestle debt. the despised promises and
paper OF the confederation. should be
funded and paid. and that the debts con-
tracted by the several states In the
prosecution Of the war for Independence
should be assumed by the general gov
ernment as the debt Of the nation.
No one could doubt that the foreign
debt must be paid In full; TO that con-
grcss agreed heartily and without hesi-
tation, But there was much In the rest
OF the plan TO give prudent men pause.
To pay Off the paper OF the confedera-
ton would be TO give TO the spectators.
such measure. gratuity OF many times
what they had paid for It, TO assume
I he state debts would be taken to mean
that the states were bankrupt or delln-
quent. that the federal government was
TO be their guardian and financial provi-
dence. and that the capital of the coun-
try must look only to the government
OF the nation. not TO the government OF
the states Tor security.
HAMILTON TRTUMPHS.
This was nationallzing the government
with vengeance, and was a plain bid,
besides. 10 win the moneyed class to It's
support Members whose constituencies
lay away from the centcrs of trade
Iooheu dSkdHCs at Sucn measures, ana
deemed them no better than handing the
government over to the money lenders OF
the towns. But boldness and energy pre-
vailed. as they had prevailed in the adop-
ton OF the constitution itself. and both
measures We're carried through the
first at once, the second after
a close and doubtful struggle--by strata
gem and barter
Jefferson had been In France when
Washington called him TO assume head
ship Of foreign affairs at home; had not
reached New York on his return voyage
until December %, 1889, and did not take
MS place in Washington's council tn
March II, 1890, All of Hamlton's great
plan had by that time passed congress.
except the assumption OF the state debts
Upon that question a crisis had been
reached. 1t had wrought Congress to a
dangerous heat OF feeling. Members from
the south, where trade was not much
astir and financial Interests told for less
than local pride and sharp jealousy OF
4 too great central power. were set hotly
gainsl the measure; most of the north
ern members were as hotly resolved upon
It's adoption
Mr.. Jefferson must have caught echoes