The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-05-22

the Constitution of the United
States is the authorship Of Ham
ilton; and it's Importance is
universally recognized.
The, first three words of the
Preamble-"We, the People,
determine for ever that in oul
fabric of government the People
alone are sovereign, the source
of al political power among us
the ultimate authority. Then hov
unjust, how misleading, to state
that the man who drafted that
terse, clear epitome of the Con.
stitution, was against the
many and in favor Of the few
1.-The Federalist" had large
influence in securing the adop'
tion Of the Constitution, and 1t
is now cherished and studied as
the clearest, strongest exposition
of the great instrument. Yet
Alexander Hamilton conceived
and planned "The Federalist,'
and, of its eighty five numbers,
he alone wrote sixty-three! He
also was joint author Of three
Of the remaining numbers. Mada'
son wrote fourteen; Yay, five,
at Hamilton's request.
Our own Washington, Web
ster, Choate, and Story are only
a few of our statesmen who have
pronounced "The Federalist" to
be the best exposition of con-
stitutional liberty extant.
Numerous foreign statesmen
have expressed similar views
One of them says that 1.-The
Federalist" may be called
seriously, reverently, the Bible
Of Republican government"
The writH was present as a
guest and spectator in the Con
vention which first nominated
Grover Cleveland for COVER
nor Of New York, and there he
heard three Democratic leaders
rail against Hamilton in essenti-
ally the same terms used by MI.
Jones. The changes have been
rung on "Hamilton's house of
Lords and his elective king" by
Aaron Burr who killed that noble
patriot, and by every generation
of Democrats since.
Hamilton took extreme ground
in the constitutional convention
of 1857 in order that he might
have both room and material for
the give and take policy which he
knew to be necessary to secure
any stable government for our
distracted country, then in great
er peril than when compassed by
British fleets and armies, in the
Revolution.
1t is we'll known that when the
Constitution was referred to the.
states, Governor Clinton, of New
York, appeared in the conven-
ton Of that state with a two
thirds majority determined to de-
feat ratification. But by his
tact; by his powers Of reason
and by his eloquence Hamilton
won a majority who adopted the
Constitution FOR the people OF
New York state! This is one
Of the greatest +riumphs OF
craftsmanship for constitutional
liberty, among English spanking
peoples.
When by thousands the COM
mon people of New York city.
celebrated this victory for ratl-
they drew a "ship OF
State" through the streets; and
the name of that ship was
90 Hamilton"
Does this look as though his
fellow citizens, of his own time,
considered Hamilton to. be.
against the many and in favor
of the few?"
This is Hamilton s own declar-
on the floor of the conNen-
ton, at Poughkeepsie, N. y, in
answer to Governor Clinton:
'.The establishment Of a republic
can government on a safe and
solid basis is the wish OF every
honest man i'm the United States,
and is an object, Of all others,
the nearest and most dear to my
own heart. This great purpose
requires strength and stability in
the organization Of the govern
ment, and vigor in its operations.
The states governments are es-
necessary to the form
and spirit Of the general system.
With the representative system
a very extensive country may be
governed by a confederacy Of
o&n% nc ~ r,b: ob Tho n,,nrouoo 1omea,