ALEXANDER HAMILTON-STATESMAN AND DIPLOMAT.
An essay read before the Authors' Club, Springfield, Illinois,
October 29, 1894.
Great emergencies produce men to meet their demands-The
establishment of our government demanded the adaptation of old
principles rather than the adoption of new-Principles never
change Only their use-Republican form not new-A nation sup-
ported by ballots and not bayonets-This republic differs from
others-Term citizen substituted for subject-Condition of the
people in 1787-Had learned the source of power-The Confederacy
had no power to enforce its decrees-Died of heart failure-A gov-
ernment with centralized powers a necessity-The great problem
was to furnish a government with powers for protection and not
destroy the rights of the states-The states were unlike in area,
wealth and population and were jealous of each other-The theory
of a general government with powers equal or superior to the
states was not popular-Many preferred a king or monarch to
such a national government-Among many others, Alexander
Hamilton was pre-eminently fitted to formulate such a strong
national government, and preserve the influence of the states-
Was a great lawyer, soldier, statesman and orator of extraor-
dinary talent and versatility in its use-Was the father of a strong
centralized government-The constitution adopted by the states
granted power to the national government to raise armies, levy
taxes, regulate commerce, issue money and make treaties with
foreign powers-Implied powers of the constitution were all that
was necessary to carry into effect all the above expressly granted
powers-The national government perfected by the wise use of
these implied powers-His opponents held that the national gov-
ernment had no powers save what the states had expressly, and
in terms granted-Parties formed on these lines, which construed
the powers of the constitution and the states differently, until
Hamilton's theory of a centralized government with powers to
coerce a state was settled on the bloody field of Appomattox--
United States Supreme Court has held the same in the Debs and
other cases-In 1895 President Cleveland sent United States
troops to Chicago when not called for by the Governor or state offi-
cials of Illinois or Chicago-Great influence and ability as First
Secretary of the Treasury-Paying debts-Location of National
capital-National bank-The national mint and coin of the realm
-Father of the protective tariff theory-Its wonderful success--
Nothing has been added to it in over one hundred years' experi-
ence The army in times of peace-Differs from ancient republics
-Ancient republics failed because executive and legislative pow-
ers were lodged in the same body-We have the check of the
senate upon the Legislative House of Congress, and the Presi-
dent and executive officials-Its importance shown in the Wilson
free trade tariff bill-Dr. C. M. Depew on Hamilton-His Bi-
ography.
RICHARD COBDEN AND ROBERT PEEL AND THEIR RE-
LATIONS TO THE ECONOMIC AND THE CORN
LAWS OF ENGLAND, FREE TRADE AND
PROTECTIVE TARIFF.
An essay read before the Authors' Club, Springfield, Illinois,
March 30, 1891.
Character of Cobden-Early life-Environment-Distinguished
contemporaries-Plebeian ancestry-At sixteen goes to London-
At twenty commercial traveler and writer of pamphlets-Great
traveler-A philanthropist, but lacked essentials of exalted states-
manship-Too far in advance of his admirers and supporters-
Statesmanship must be practical-As a writer was strong, auda-
cious, clear and analytical-As a speaker was ready, enthusiastic
and powerful-Was an obstructionist-Opposed the government
in the Crimean war-And in 1857 for bombarding the city of Can-
ton-Again when he favored the North in the war of 1861-Died
in 1865 in London-Eulogies of Gladstone, Palmerston, Bright,
Disraeli and the French minister-Was an international man.
Robert Peel-Early life-Born to wealth and every advantage-
Oxford graduate and a Protestant-Prime minister twice-Natu-
ral abilities of superior order and fully developed-Was con-
trolled more by logical reasoning than impulsive feeling-Was dis-
tinguished for regard for truth.
Cobden and Peel advocated repeal of corn laws, or free trade
in corn-Corn laws repealed for benefit of starving laborers-Cob-
den on high moral grounds of national brotherhood-Peel to aid
the starving poor-Irish famine of 1845 and threatened famine
in England forced the repeal, and not as a tariff or economical
measure-Peel's success in 1846 in repealing corn laws com-
pelled his resignation-Parties at that time-Whigs and Tories-
Discussion of tariff measures-Free trade advanced by repeal of
navigation laws-Object of corn laws to protect English land
owners Speculations in corn prohibited-Influence of capital on
the repeal-Repeal was effected to induce America to ship corn
to England and purchase her manufactured goods-Fall of Ant-
werp, 1525, changed England from an agricultural to a manufac-
turing nation-Great profits lay in changing raw materials into
manufactured products-English interest to furnish cheap food
for her laborers-Free trade no remedy for starving laborers-
Prime question is not the price, but money to purchase with-
Free trade a fine theory, but utterly impractical under present con-
ditions in America-Interest on money-Wages paid for labor-
Difference in civilization-In religious caste renders it impossible
-Buying and selling where one pleases not an inherent or sacred
right- Demand and supply not the most important-Self-defensc
and self-protection are primary laws-The government must regu-
late all terms of international traffic-It being the only power that
can protect trade and make it profitable-England not so prosper-
ous relatively since free trade-Where the laborer has a vote he
has a voice in fixing the price of labor-Otherwise he is the servant
of capital-Relatively more poverty in free trade England than in
any nation under a protective tariff-Free trade tends to lower
prices and reduce wages-Protective tariff increases wages
and diversified industries--Difference in favor of labor from
one-third to one-half under protective tariff-Tariff not a tax,
paid by the consumer, but a price paid for the market-Direct
and indirect taxation-Protection should be sufficient to control
markets for everything our labor can produce Competition will
reduce prices for consumers to a fair profit for manufacturing
-Reciprocity treaties for goods not made in this country-India
and Ireland ruined by free trade England-Taxation for revenue
only-English authorities-Free trade from an experience of fifty
years has left labor in a most degraded condition-Has reduced
from one-sixth to one-tenth of the entire population of England to
absolute poverty.
CIVILIZATION A GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
INTELLIGENCE AND MORALITY ARE THE KEYS THAT UNLOCK THE MYSTERIES OF STATES
Civilization is a growth and a development. None can escape the forty years in the wilderness who wish to travel from the Egypt of Ignorance to the promised land of plenty and power, culture and refinement. It is to Nations what character is to individuals. It describes their exact status, and fixes their location. The character of the civilization enables the historian to assign each nation to its proper place with reference to all others. And this is readily done as soon as their material, intellectual and moral attainments are known, as these are the principal forces that enter in to determine the status of every nationality.
Through history we survey with ever increasing interest the long line of nationalities that have come and gone, under various names and forms of government, until at times the long and weary journeyings of the dusty and foot-sore race, seem to have accomplished little else than to have completed the endless cycle of birth and growth, development and decay. The race seem slow to learn that the nearer we keep to nature, the more we shall be in accord with her laws, and the more rapid and satisfactory will be our development. The rulers have learned little by her analogies. She never makes a mistake by attempting to use forces whose utility circumstances forbid. The flower is never dependent upon others of its kind for its beauty and fragrance, nor the fruit for its growth and flavor. Yet men have refused to recognize this great law that the elements of man's perfection and happiness lay within the plane of his own development, and not in the outward surrounding of governmental appliances Men have sought to use forces from without, instead of developing those from within the individual man. And
hence the pathway of the race is one great battlefield, upon which opposing forces have contended for place and power. Nature and true women rule by persuasion; or by demonstrating to their subjects that it is for their highest good to obev. Men rule rather by force, and a display of powers that will compel obedience, even against the will of the subject. In the one case the will is solicited; and in the other it is overcome by the force of power.
The all absorbing question of the age has been how to rule the people; and the greatest burdens of the race have been imposed upon them by the governing powers. It is not improbable that the costs of maintaining the governments of the earth have been far greater than the cost of food for the suffering race; while the wars that have been waged by ambitious and hostile leaders have destroyed more lives than the worst diseases that have preyed upon mankind. It is a singular fact, that the theory and practice of the fundamental principles of our government have never had a favorable consideration, or a fair trial before our experiment.
The Jewish Theocracy, and our own system of government, seem to be at antipodes. Jehovah, or the Jewish Deity, was the direct source of all their power, and through the Patriarch and Priesthood the commands of their God were communicated; while under our system each man (and I wish I could say each woman) is the source of political power. Between these two extreme theories of government, as wide apart as God and men, all the different forms have oscillated during the centuries of the past. It was left for us to demonstrate the fact that the people could be trusted to govern themselves; or, in other words, that they could be made so self-reliant, so cultured and so selfrespectful, and so careful of the interests of each other, that they would need little of formal government; and that the tendency should be constantly toward individual independence, and less toward arbitrary and class government. The fruit of such a system is of very slow growth. Its roots must strike deep into the history of the ages, and draw its lessons of wisdom from the experiments of the past. Its head must bask in the genial light of a people, educated in the sharp frictions of an extended commerce, in a largely perfected knowledge of scientific truths, in a development of governmental resources, and above all in a nation whose
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