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By Barbara Schoetzau
He was one of the giants of American history: a hero in the American Revolution; the new nation's first Treasury1 secretary; architect of the nation's monetary2 system; an early and vociferous3 opponent of slavery. Yet recent history has often bypassed Alexander Hamilton's contributions to the formation of American society. Now, on the bicentennial of his death, a new multi-media exhibition aims to reassess the reputation of one the United States' founding fathers.
The New York Historical Society is calling its exhibition "Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America." Documentary filmmaker Ric Burns, a member of the Historical Society's board, says none of the founding fathers is less well-known or more relevant to the contemporary world than Hamilton.
"He was in many ways the first modern American. He was a bastard4 from the Caribbean and an immigrant, a man who believed in and thrived on flux5 and change and new New York was the capital of those things. He was the ultimate upstart in the ultimate upstart city. He was a man who came to epitomize the spirit of the society that was coming to teach itself that who you were and where you came from, mattered far less than what you could do and where you were going."
The New York Historical Society building is wrapped in a giant $10 bill, the denomination6 that carries Hamilton's portrait. Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin are the only two non-presidents depicted7 on American currency.
Richard Brookhiser, the author of a biography simply called Alexander Hamilton, American, served as curator historian for the exhibition. He says Hamilton's importance in developing the U.S. financial system cannot be overestimated8.
"He was the first Treasury secretary. Most people know that. They know that he was the money guy, the guy that put America's finances on a firm footing. I do not think they understand how important that was or how difficult that was or how little it was understood by Hamilton's great peers. The founding fathers who understood the emerging world of modern finance could really be counted on one hand."
Display cases throughout the exhibit show artifacts tracing Hamilton's life, from his early years working as a clerk at a merchant house in the West Indies to his death at the age of 47 in duel9 with his bitter enemy, Vice10 President Aaron Burr.
Artifacts, videos and an audio guide also explain Hamilton's relationships with other founding fathers, including George Washington. During the Revolutionary War, he served as a top aide to General Washington. When Washington became the new nation's first president, he appointed Hamilton secretary of Treasury. After he left government, Hamilton remained a close confidante of Washington's and wrote much of his famous farewell address in 1796. The speech, which became a classic, warns against sectionalism and partisanship11 at home and permanent alliances abroad. A proof in Hamilton's handwriting is on display.
"The nation which indulges towards others an habitual12 hatred13 or an habitual fondness is a slave," (an audio guide explains)"It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and interest."
The exhibit's organizers leave no doubt that they believe Hamilton's reputation has suffered because he was ahead of his time. Ric Burns attributes the neglect partly to a general disillusionment with urban life during much of the 20th century and an idealized image of agrarian14 society. Now, Mr. Burns says, cities are recognized as great achievements.
"What I really hope takes place now is a recognition that we live in the world he made. When [Thomas] Jefferson was waxing philosophical15 and the planters were talking about the beauty of the American countryside, this guy was putting together the theory and the practical blueprint16 for creating an urban, commercial, democratic society. He thought on that kind of global scale. That was an astonishing genius."
Surprisingly, Hamilton's role as a leading opponent of slavery has also been largely forgotten. Richard Brookhiser comments.
"At the moment of independence, every one of the 13 states had slaves. The founders17 were aware of this as a problem. They knew that this was a contradiction to their own principles. What did they do about it? Jefferson agonized18 about it. Washington, in the last act of his life, frees all his slaves in his will. What Hamilton does is he joins other New Yorkers and he founds the New York Manumission Society to try to end slavery in his state."
Hamilton's legacy19 is still very much alive in institutions that he founded. The Bank of New York and The New York Post newspaper still exist. Among those attending the opening of the exhibition were 30 of Hamilton's descendants, including a fifth great grandson, Douglas Hamilton and his son, Alexander. Alex says his father is the family historian.
"He had me memorize Hamilton's biography by the time I was about five or six years old. So I have always grown up with an appreciation20 but to see this exhibit here, it is pretty unbelievable."
Letters exchanged between Hamilton and Aaron Burr can be seen in the exhibition along with the pistols used in the duel, which the historical society is showing for the first time. In addition, James Basker, the project director for the exhibition, says 280 previously21 unknown documents were discovered while preparing for the show.
"There is one in the exhibition, a letter from his sister-in-law, Angelica Church, written he day that Hamilton was shot in a duel. She has just heard about it. She is describing what has happened. It is very rushed. You can see the emotion in her handwriting."
After it closes in New York in February, the Alexander Hamilton multi-media exhibition will travel to 40 venues22 across the United States for three years.
Barbara Schoetzau, VOA news, New York.
注释：
vociferous 大声喊叫的，猛烈抗议的
bicentennial 二百周年纪念
contemporary 同时代的
bastard 私生子
curator 馆长
confidante 红粉知己，知心女友
sectionalism 地方主义，地方偏见
disillusionment 觉醒
descendant 子孙，后代
venue 集合地点，展示地点
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1
treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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monetary
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| adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的 | |
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vociferous
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| adj.喧哗的，大叫大嚷的 | |
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bastard
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| n.坏蛋，混蛋；私生子 | |
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flux
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| n.流动；不断的改变 | |
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denomination
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| n.命名，取名，(度量衡、货币等的)单位 | |
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depicted
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| 描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述 | |
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overestimated
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| 对（数量）估计过高，对…作过高的评价( overestimate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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Partisanship
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| n. 党派性, 党派偏见 | |
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habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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13
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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agrarian
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| adj.土地的，农村的，农业的 | |
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philosophical
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| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
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blueprint
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| n.蓝图，设计图，计划；vt.制成蓝图，计划 | |
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founders
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| n.创始人( founder的名词复数 ) | |
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agonized
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| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
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legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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venues
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| n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点 | |
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