The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-08-04
From the Boston Advertiser.
THE LATE CHIEF JUSTICE PARKI

year 1908, and was graduated. at Harvard
College in 1876. He read law in the office
of the late Judge Tudor, and began the
practice of the profession at Castine in
Maine, from which place he afterwards re-
moved to Portland. In 1896, he was ehos-
en- enc of the three Representatives of
Maine, in Congress, and was afterwards
appointed Marshal of the District of Maine,
which Office he held until the accession of
Mr.. Jefferson to the Presidency. In Janua-
ry, 1906, he was appointed one of the JUS
tees of the Supreme Judicial Court, and in
1914, on the death of Chief Justice Sewal,
he was appointed the presiding officer I'M
that Court.
While others are preparing, las public
gratitude requires they should do,) elabo.
rate memoirs of the life and public services
of Judge Parker, permit one, who was his
companion from infancy, to advanced age,
who was honored by his constant confidence,
affection, and intimate society, for fifty
years, to make a few remarks on some pc
cuiar circumstances, in his history and
character.
Great men make themselves. They owe
little to chance. The vulgar and unrefect-
ing call their success good fortune, but
more minute inquiry will show, that it is
not so. 1t is of the last Importance to soci-
ETY., that men should he disabused on this
point. Nature unquestioDably does some
thing for distinguished men, but much the
greater part of their success, their powers,
and their usefulness, is due to their own
energies, and exertions.
No man, who has died in Massachusetts,
(snce the landing of Winthrop,) as full Of
honors, and as deeply and justly lamented
as Chief Justice Parker, (and their have
hoov bat \
creator, and builder up, of his reputation,
than he was.
The circumstances in which he was
placed on his first entry into life, could
scarcely have been more adverse. OF ten
thousand persons placed in the same situa-
ton, probably not two, would have possess
ed the energy to raise himself so high.
He was poor-without opulent or in1uen-
tial friends. But he had his own mind
and great one il vast was his richest
treasure. He had one other possession of
inestmable value-an easy, confident, quiet
temper, disposed to look favorably on the
world, on every body, and every concern in |
ito hope rather than desponG. I
He had another trait, which was of near
ly equal value. He despised the common
luxuries of life when put in competition
with independence and the lofty aspira-
tons after fame and usefulness, in the very
earliest youth, destitute and dismal as, to |
others. his prospects seemed, he never ceas-
ed TO indulge. His rare talents, and most /
engaging manners had already made him
the favorite of all the gay and intelligent
circles of Boston, when he resolved to break
away and plant himself in country, which
was then literally Wilderness Castine.
The privations not only of an intellectual
but of physical character, to which he
submitted, are scarcely to be credited
But it was a most useful discipline to his
mind and character. To these sufferings
aB4 BEiyysttl0Ra gee PIE fgs sgsEga igedHsty
Ion The rhOle) the most UaluabLe public SER
vant, which the Judiciary department of
this State has furnished. The steps, by
which he rose to the high eminence, which
might satisfy the ambition of most men,
were natural, easy, the result of constant
effort on his part, and of increasing conf
dence on the part of the public; yes, and
of the better part of the public. Here it
would be proper to say, that during the
most eventful timss,-and no man ever
witnessed any which were more trying to
the purity of the principles of public man,
Chief Justice Parker made no sacrifice
of his otcn. While he was mild and chart-
able towards others, he was infexihle in
maintaining, throughout his ichoLe life, the
political opinions, which, in youth, after
deep reflection, he had adopted. There
was one quality of his character, which
however injurious, as it unquestionably was
to his orn family, had a tendency to inspire
the public with the highest confidence IN
him. This was his utter disregard to self !
his contempt for property, and the baubles |
which glitter around it. Most assuredly, !
the extreme to which he carried this indf-
ference, may be considered as fault; and
yet 1t is impossible not to feel high degree
OF admiration for that temper of mind, which
can sacrifice every mean and personal con-
sideration, to sense Of duty and the desire
of fame.
Chief Justice Parker had the rare GOOD
fortune of holding most important stations, I
IN the National and State Governments, dur /
ing period, in which strong party feelings |
prevailed, without becoming the object of
hatred or Ill will to any party. This good |
fortune is'to be attributed to the very rare I
sweetness ofhis disposition, and the moder- 1
alton OF his manners i'm no degree to his I
holding dubious, or covering, or vacillat- |
ing course. No man was more open and 4
'undisguIsed than he was, as 10 all his opin- /
ions. To those who knew the state of his
own private concerns, his independence and
impaTtlality, his Indifference to his own in
terest, anu his devotion TO his public duties, /
were subjects of just admiration.
Chief Justice Parker was remarkably fit |
ted for the employment Of a successful adj I
vocate. He was one of the most felicitous
speakers for New England audience. His
irankness and mlldness, his honest front and 1
bearing, were irresistible to Jury. If he /
had removed to Boston in 1906, instead of
going to the Bench, he would have been in !
the receipt Of $4,000 a year, for the last
"a years. But he took the better part for \
his fame and for has country; and unjust
must this State be, unless she does annie
honor TO his memory l aav nnthinn &c hi. |