The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-12-25
Hon. e. M. stanton,

Death, always busy, has, during the past
twelvemonth, been especially active among
those whom the public have looked up to as
guides, or delighted to honor for their private
virtues or public services. As we glance
backN ard through the year just closing, its
neurological record startles us. We dare not
enumerate the honored men who have fallen
since we bid each other, in our daily walks, a
Happy New Year." Only yesterday, it
seems, we stood by the open grave of one who
filled an important place in our nation in its
darkest hour; and the words spoken in his
praise are hardly cold before we are called to
perform the last sad offices over another of
those eminent men who stood in the front
rank when the nation was undergoing those
terrible experiences which nations know but
once, and which result in life or death. And
the great Christian Festival which we cele-
brate to-day is clouded by pang of grief, as
We read the painful tidings contained in an
other column of our paper
Edwin NJ. Stanton, whose death is recorded
elsewhere, although native of one of our
western States, belongs not to her, but
to the nation. He first saw the light in Ohio
in 1915, and passed through the usual vicissi-
tudes which are the usual lot of half our bows
who afterwards make names for themselves
He was Of Quaker stock, but his after life
proved that he was quick to resist wrong, and
if need be throw everything, even himself in
to the balance to preserve and maintain JUS
tice and equity. A year at college; brief
experience as a booksellers clerk, all the
while engaged in the study of the law, and
his admission to the bar in his native State in
1889, and his removal to Pittsburg in 1857,
from the brief and chief historical points in his
private history, until the time when he was
more generally brought 10 the public view as
counsel for the defence of Daniel Sickles. in
dicted for the murder of Francis KEY in 1859.
In this ease, though opposed by the sentiment
OF the community he won a triumph: and his
reputation as lawyer became more enlarged
In 1851 he fortunately accepted the posi-
tion OF Attorney General in Mr.. Bucbanan,s
cabinet; and but for him and Joseph Holt and
General Dix and few other brave spirits the
nation would have been shipwreck in the
~~~SAN VI
the earnest solicitation of Abraham Lincoln,
Mr.. Stanton took the difficult and delicate
position of Secretary of War; and the warm,
hearty friendship which existed between these
two men is known of all the world; and we
remember how the President, careworn and
anxious, was oftener seen In the office of the
secretary of War than in any other place
n
away from the White House, proloneing his
stay not unfrequeltly into the late hours of
the night. How well he fulfilled his duties
mere e not forgotten. His unfinching perse-
Verence, coupled with integrity, his foresight
and quick perception of character, energy and
sleepless vigilance, were great virtues when
virtue was scarce. He was quick and decided i.
oftentimes uncourteous; and he used tho
means at his command with sometime lilo
despotism; but the result proved his wisdom,
and success stilled the voice of partizan bit.
terness.y
The controversy between himself and Mr..
johnson, on the accession of the latter to the
Presidency, is well known; and in the light
OF recent history, with all the attendant cir
cumstances fresh in mind, who can doubt his
wisdom and disinterested patriotism. With
the leading men who carried our country
through its great trial, Mr.. Stanton was ever
in accord; and when the strife of arms was
closed, his services were invaluable in the |
work of reconstruction.
And after all this terrible labor Mr.. Stanton |
retired to private life, with broken health, and |
scarcely any of that material reward for which |
most men work. TWAS hoped the efforts he |
made 70 recuperate his energies would be
successful; for the nation remembered his
services with gratitude, and ardentv desired
his recovery. His recent nomination as an
Associate Justice of the Supreme Judicial
Court, made at the almost unanimous solicit
tation of the Republican members of Con-
gress, was greeted throughout the country as
an appointment not only fitting in itself, but
well deserved as a reward of unqualified SER
vices to the nation; and his death at this time |
must be regarded as public calamity.