WILLIAM THOMAS HAMILTON Economy, if not actuated by selfishness, is a praiseworthy attribute; when prudence, and not avarice, inspires the economist, he practices an admirable virtue, and one most difficult to cultivate. It matters not whether the field of his activity be in the home or in the outside world, the righteous economist deserves a wreath of roses—or if he pursues his practice in the political world, a halo, for the world politic is not the place best adapted for introducing economic doctrines. With the subject of political administration there is strongly associated in the public mind an idea of necessary extravagance with public funds and a disregard of the return received for salaries paid to public servants, whose employment is looked upon as part of the patronage falling to political workers. For this reason, while the theoretical economist makes an admirable candidate, the practical economist, if given office, is apt to prove disappointing to the "spoils-seekers" of his party. The men, as a rule, who most heartily support a man for an elective office carrying with it some patronage in the form of appointments, look to that candidate, if successful, for favors. Since the days of President Jackson the motto of political parties in the United States has been: "To the victor belong the spoils" and "spoils" here is synonymous with everything but the elective office itself. Bearing this in mind, it is not difficult to see that a party man, if elected by his organization to an office rich in patronage, would soon fall into disfavor if he not only refused to regard public offices as "spoils" but immediately upon entering office sought to reduce the number of public positions to be filled. Herein is found an explanation for Governor Hamilton's falling out with the so-called "leaders" of his party and for the opposition which he encountered in the closing years of his life from party workers who had once labored for his success. Mr. Hamilton was a political economist, or, more properly, he was an economical politician. The ruling passion of his life was to lighten the people's burden of taxation. But light taxation is not to be obtained unless there is economical administration, and economical administration is impossible without honest administrators, while honest administrators cannot win office unless the ballot is maintained undefiled-so his endeavor led him to support a series of reforms all of which were distasteful to a large part of his political bedfellows. Born at Hagerstown, September 8, 1820, the infancy and early childhood days of William Thomas Hamilton were passed at Boonsboro, the parental homestead. Deprived of his mother at the age of six years, and two years later of his father, Henry Hamilton, he was placed under the guardianship of his three uncles. These relatives-the brothers of his mother, whose maiden name had been Anna Mary M. Hess were engaged in farming, and also conducted a mill and general merchandise store. The lad, thus intimately associated with business men, early developed those traits which characterized him in after years-self-reliance, an indomitable will, and the spirit of combativeness which readily comes to a boy thrown upon his own resources. The elementary training of the boy was acquired from James Brown, a happy mixture of pedagogue and politician; and from this preceptor the youth doubtless received his taste for politics. He received his college preparatory training at Hagerstown Academy, and studied for four years1836:1840-at Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pa. Upon |