Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-01-15
HAMILTON'S
ACHIEVEMENTS RECALLED
First Secretary of the Treasury Led
Fight for Strong Centralized
Government

the history OF great nation, put Alex
ander Hamilton achieved even more
than this.
In calling attention to the l74th an
niversary of his birthday on January
IL, 1881, the Division of Information
and Publication of the George Wash
ington Bicentennial Commission points
out the extraordinary versatility OF the
man whom Chief Justice Marshall
ranked next to George Washington IN
importance during those critical years
of our history.
The senseless sacrifice of this bril-
liant man, who was killed in duel
by Aaron Burr, caused an outburst
of bitter and indignant grief among
men of all parties throughout the ma
ton. that has seldom been equaled III
the history of the country.
Hamilton was born, as British
subject, on the island of Nevis, IN the
West Indies, on Janua-y IL, l757. At the
age of IL, following his fathers bank
ruptcy and his mothers death, he was
thrown upon the care Of maternal rel
atives at ST. Croix, where he entered
the counting house of Nicholas Cruger
In 1772 friends, impressed by his as
tonishing poise and maturity OF mind
made it possible for him to go to New
York to continue his education Arriv-
ing there the autumn of that year, ne
prepared for college at Elizabethtown,
N. J., and in 1774 entered Kings Col
lege now Columbia University, in New
York CITY. His studies were interrupted
by the Revolution.
A visit to Boston seems to have thor
oughly confirmed the conclusion to
which reason had already led him, that
he should cast his fortunes with the
patriots rather than with the Tories.
Into the cause he threw himself with
ardor Early in ITS the New York
convention ordered company OF ar
tillery to be raised. Hamilton applied
for the command and his examination
quickly idspelled doubts OF his fitness
in those who suspected mere youthful
presumption.
The artillery company quickly showed
the talent of.its commander, who, by
his proficiency and bravery in the
campaign Of 1776 around New York
City. won the admiration of Generals
Washington and Greene Hamilton
| shared in the brilliant campaign or
Trenton and Princeton and SO distin-
guished himself as dashing and gallant
officer that although he was barely
twenty years old, Washington appointed
him his aide de-camp with the rank
of lieutenant colonel
Hamilton, despite his other remark
able abilities, was unusually ambitious
for military glory-an ambition he
never lost As a member of Washing
i TONS staff his duties were various and
| hiehlv responsible, but he 1onped for
Tho fold and firinp line with an in
denendent commend. In February
| 1881. he seized SLIGHT reprimand adj
ministered BY WASHINGTON as an ex-
! cusa for abandonina bis staff nositior
] and later secured field command
| through Washington. and won laurels
at Yorktown. whore he led his column
in the final assault against the British
works
Whether as a soldier. LAWYER OF
etptesman he was master in every
/ field that he entered Hamilton. be-
1 vond doubt, had an Unborn peniu.
for finance. ard was beyond question
a pioneer in what has since become tn
most important department of practica
4 government
i He founded fine financial system o
the United States and converted th'
barren clauses Of the Constitution int
living organism
When he became secretary OF tn
treasury, he found there was prea
mass Of work to be done in nrganizin
the collecting and disbursing fore
throughout the country. Congress i'm
mediatelv submitted to him mum
! Der Of queries and problems for solu
ton. and there came forth from his ne'
succession Of papers that have lef
their strong imprint on the adninistra
tive organization of the national gov
J eminent.
!, Among them were two reports OF
the public credit, upholding an idea
Of national honor higher than the pre-
valent popular principles; q report Of
!, manufactures, advocating their encour
agement; a report favoring the estab
lishment OF national bank, the argu
ments being based on implied powers
in the Constitution and on the appli
: cation that congress can do anything
that. can be made, through the medium
of money, to subserve the genera
welfare" of the United States. Hamil
tons doctrines, through judicial inter
{ probation, have revolutionized the Con
! stitution. The success of his financia
measures were immediate and remark
able
9 Hamilton's PLAN to establish a ma
0 tional bank resembling in great meas
J ure the Bank Of England, aroused a
great an interest in congress as tn
= proposal to assume the state debts ha
brought forth. The project was final
J. passed by both Houses in PRACTICAL
the form that Hamilton had suggeste
and came before President Washingto
: for approval on February Ia, 1871.
So heated had been the debates !
the House on the constitutionality {
a United States bank, that the Presi
dent felt doubts as to the power (
congress to incorporate such an inst
tuition. He called upon his four cabint
members for their opinions Hamilto
! and Knox, secretary of war, favore
Al IL l. -k