(Copyright by Underwood & Underwood) STATUE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON IN WALL STREET, NEW YORK, WHERE THE FIRST INAUGURATION TOOK PLACE BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES BY JAMES MORGAN New York THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1924 All rights reserved INTRODUCTION WHILE the framers of the Federal Constitution were at their great task behind the bolted doors of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, alarming rumors ran about the streets to the effect that the fathers of the republic were plotting in secret to set up a monarchy. They were going to make the second son of George III King of the United States! They were going to import a Bourbon prince from France to rule over the infant nation! Kings yet ruled all the rest of the world, and naturally many Americans feared, many assumed, some hoped, that in their land a new king would take the place of the old king who had been overthrown. Haunted by doubts and anxieties, the builders of the republic had to create a new model of government. For all the nations still were beneath the rule of princes. Although there are many more republics today than there are independent monarchies, many more presidents than sovereign princes, there still is no other President like ours. The President of France-also the President of Germany-only presides, and does not govern or administer. One delegate to the constitutional convention merely ventured the opinion that the country ought, at least, to make the attempt to get along without a throne. Another conceded that in the end there would have to be a crown; but he wished that the unwelcome event might be postponed as long as possible. Alexander Hamilton frankly proposed that the President should serve for life. Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut was doubtful if "the most eminent characters" could be coaxed to take the Presidency if they were to be "degraded" again to private citizenship! Gouverneur Morris of New York declared that it was not in the nature of man to be willing to "quit such an exaltation," and he favored a life tenure because, once a President was in, he would stay in anyhow by the power of the sword. Fearing that it would be chimerical, James Wilson of Pennsylvania hardly dared to suggest that the people might be trusted to elect the chief magistrate. A scoffing Virginian exclaimed that it would be like leaving the selection of colors to a blind man. After a century and a third, ours still remains the only country where the choice of a chief of state really is referred to the masses. A Japanese having offended one of the officers of Commodore Perry's expedition for the opening of the ports of the hermit empire of Japan, the Japanese officials properly wished to make "the punishment fit the crime," and they proceeded gravely to investigate the rank of the American. First, they learned that he was under a commodore; then that the Secretary of the Navy was above the commodore, and next that the President was above the Secretary. Never having heard of a republic and having no conception of a democracy with a ballot box, naturally they expected to come to some one at the top, like the Mikado. "And who is above the President?" they asked curiously. "The people," was the American reply. The simple chronicle adds, "Of this they could make |