and, when victory favored his army, he did not sully his glory 
by cruelty, patio’, or wantonly riot in human suffering. Con- 
trariwise, in his social and domestic qualities, he was kindly, 
generous, and affectionate, while in him the friendless found 
a friend, the fatherless a father, and the poor a benefactor, 
protector, advocate. Thus, when the rich oppressed the indi- 
gent, when the powerful threatened the defenseless, when those 
in high places ventured to outrage justice, then it was the 
time when Hamilton displayed the true grandeur and dignity 
of his nature, whereupon he defended the innocent, defense- 
less, injured, all with a scathing power of eloquence which 
filled the observer with mingled terror and admiration. | 
we see, when he perished, among the myriads of eyes which 
wept, there were not a few of the widows and orphans of the 
land who blessed his memory and shed bitter tears over his 
untimely fate; in his domestic circle, he was ever most tenderly 
beloved, being eminently happy in that circle. : 
As a mere boy, I can see him leaving his West India home 
to get a college education in this country, whereupon he enters 
the halls of King’s College, now known as Columbia; I can 
see him in a mass meeting, being amid a crowd of citizens 
near the city of New York, mounted upon a platform, carrying 
the entire assembly with him; I can see him at the battle 
of Long Island, the consequent retreat to White Plains, the 
contests at Trenton and Princeton. Ah, look! I can see him 
Standing at the bar of New York as a leader, taking part in the 
deliberations of the Constitution Convention! 
In September, the year 1789, a few days after Congress had 
enacted a bill to organize a treasury department, at a time 
when the nation was burdened with a heavy debt, being almost 
destitute of credit, Hamilton was appointed secretary of the 
treasury. In January, 1790, he presented to Congress a report 
on public credit and a plan for the support of the same, which 
became the basis of the financial system of the nation, where- 
upon, among the measures which he proposed were the fund- 
ing system and a national bank. Hence, the results of Hamil- 
ton’s financial policy were the restoration of public credit and 
a rapid revival of trade and industry; he also advocated the 
encouragement of domestic manufactures by a protective tariff. 
January 31, 1795, Hamilton, whose salary was scarcely suf- 
ficient for the support of his family, and who was unwilling 
to neglect any longer his private interests, resigned his office, 
whereupon he simultaneously declined the position of chief 
justice of the supreme court of the United States. On the 
other hand, in a series of essays, signed “Camillus,” he de- 
fended Jay's treaty with Great Britain; he also had Washing- 
ton to testify his great esteem for him by consulting him in 
the preparation of his “Farewell Address,” which, says Ren- 
10 
