Exposition. Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826. and "the pavement I was traversing," for instance, savoring somewhat of rhetorical "fine writing." During the Revolutionary War and the years immediately following, when the Constitution was under discussion and our government in process of formation, most of the greatest minds were absorbed in public affairs. There is a large body of important and interesting writings which may be classified as Exposition. Articles were prepared for the journals, and state papers were written by different public men of the time. Among these two great documents ought to be familiar to every American: the Declaration of Independence, prepared by a committee of the Continental Congress, but whose original draft — which was very slightly altered - was written by Thomas Jefferson; and the Farewell Address to the American people by George Washington. These, however, belong to the political rather than the literary history of our country. Jefferson left a large body of writings, mostly political in their character, but informed with a markedly scholarly, if not strictly literary, quality. Some of his utterances have a fine proverbial terseness and force. Such, for example, is the famous saying which embodies a large part of his political philosophy: "It is error alone which needs the support of government; truth can stand by itself." services to education were invaluable. He devised a complete system, beginning with primary instruction and completed in the great University of Virginia. A selected edition of the works of this great statesman, His making accessible that part of his writings which belongs to Literature, is one of the much-to-be-desired things which we do not yet possess. Paine, In the discussions which preceded and led to the Declaration of Independence, one of the most popular and influential writers was Thomas Paine. He was Thomas born in England, but came to this country at the sug- 1737-1809. gestion of Franklin. He published "Common Sense" in 1776. It was a pamphlet giving the arguments for independence, and had great influence. "The Crisis" was published at intervals during the war, and was also very popular. It contains the famous line, "These are the times that try men's souls." Later, Paine went to France, and took a creditable part in the French Revolution. The "Rights of Man" was a reply to Burke's "Reflections on the French Revolution." The "Age of Reason" was a discussion of religious questions from a Deistic point of view. When the Constitution had been prepared by the Convention in 1787, it was submitted to the people for ratification. There was a great deal of opposition to it, and its adoption or rejection seems to have depended upon New York, where the people were divided in opinion. Therefore, three of the ablest men of the time prepared and published anonymously a series of papers explaining and defending the different provisions of the proposed Constitution. These papers were afterward collected in a volume called "The Federalist." To this day if any one desires to understand the intention of the provi- 1787. G "The Federalist," Alexander Hamilton, 1757-1804. sions of the Constitution, the best thing he can do is As an example of this form of writing, take some sentences from "The Federalist," No. 69, on the office of President, by Alexander Hamilton. There is an idea, which is not without its advocates, that a vigorous Executive is inconsistent with the genius of republican Government. The enlightened well-wishers to this species of Government must at least hope that the supposition is destitute of foundation; since they can never admit its truth, without, at the same time, admitting the condemnation of their own principles. Energy in the Executive is a leading character in the definition of good Government. It is essential to the protection of the community against foreign attacks; it is not less essential to the steady administration of the laws; to the protection of property against those irregular and highhanded combinations which sometimes interrupt the ordinary course of justice; to the security of liberty against the enterprises and assaults of ambition, of faction, and of anarchy. Every man, the least conversant in Roman story, knows how often that Republic was obliged to take refuge in the absolute power of a single man, under the formidable title of Dictator, as well against the intrigues of ambitious individuals, who aspired to the tyranny, and the seditions of whole classes of the community, whose conduct threatened the existence of all government, as against the invasions of external enemies, who menaced the conquest and destruction of Rome. There can be no need, however, to multiply arguments or examples on this head. A feeble Executive implies a feeble execution of the Government. A feeble execution is but another phrase for a bad execution; and a Government ill executed, whatever it may be in theory, must be, in practice, a bad Government. Taking it for granted, therefore, that all men of sense will agree in the necessity of an energetic Executive, it will only* remain to inquire, what are the ingredients, which constitute this energy? How far can they be combined with those other ingredients which constitute safety in the republican sense? And how far does this combination characterize the plan which has been reported by the Convention? The ingredients which constitute energy in the Executive are, first, unity; secondly, duration; thirdly, an adequate provision for its support; fourthly, competent powers. The ingredients which constitute safety in the republican sense are, first, a due dependence on the People; secondly, a due responsibility. The quality which impresses a careful student of this bit of exposition is the same which we noticed in Franklin's "Autobiography"; namely, clearness. There is no possibility of an intelligent mind misunderstanding Hamilton's thought. This quality, however, is secured by very different means. The proportion of long words and words of Latin derivation is much larger. This is made necessary by the subject. Government was the great gift of the Romans to the world; and, therefore, whenever we discuss government we necessarily use words of Latin origin. in this selection the words are never needlessly long But Benjamin Rush, 1745-1813. Samuel Hopkins, 1721-1803. Alexander Webster's Book, 1784. or unfamiliar. They are always clearly adapted to the idea to be expressed. The sentences are admirably formed for clearness. Notice the succession of clauses about the disadvantage of a feeble executive. They are short, balanced, with just enough repetition of important words to carry the mind easily on from one thought to another, and aid in keeping the connection clear. "The Federalist" is perhaps the best example in our Literature of this type of composition. Other authors of this class who ought to be noticed. are the following: Benjamin Rush was a Philadelphia physician, who published, in 1798, "Essays, Literary, Moral, and Philosophical." Samuel Hopkins, of Newport, Rhode Island, was a leading theological writer of the time, and a pioneer in the antislavery contest. His character is beautifully portrayed in Mrs. Stowe's novel, "The Minister's Wooing." Alexander Wilson, who has been already mentioned, was a close friend of William Bartram, the son of John Bartram, and shared their enthusiasm in scientific research. Wilson's specialty was "birdlore," and the work by which he is best known is his Ornithology," especially interesting as one of the earliest examples of the literary record of the study of nature, which later became so important a part of our American prose. 66 Two books appeared during this period which are difficult to classify as Literature, but which have had great influence upon all writers since both in England and America. One is Noah Webster's Spelling |