The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-05-14
Ihe 9niIg Arsns.
Wednesday, Nay II, 1879.
The Late Chief Justice Chase

all Ills tOuuil Hull ShASA unNANN Nhe'N |
leaves behind him no stateman who has
taken so vigorous part IN the controver-
sizes of these last, fruitful twenty years
who possesses anything like the large
measure Of public respect which was &C
corded TO him. The Chief Justice came
to this city on Saturday in the apparent
enjoyment of better health than he has
had during the winter. On Sunday and
on Monday he seemed in unwonted strength
and spirits. Monday evening, he was
Frustrated by paralytic stroke which de-
fed all the resources Of medical skill The
fame fickered till between ten and eleven
O'Clock yesterday morning, when it quietly
went out in the presence of his two daugh-
tiers and other attached friends.
We thus part with the last of the four
men who acted the most distinguished and
controlling parts in the administration of
the government during the war. MIR. Lin
coin himself fell while the COnfederacy
was in it's expiring throe. Mr.. Stanton
who directed the War Department in that
great contest, survived him two or three
years II is but few months since Mr.
Seward was laid in his final resting place,
and but few weeks since his eulOgy was
pronounced by the ablest of the ENJOYS
who served under him. Mr.. Chase, who
has now also gone, perhaps acted a more
important part than any Of them, inasmuch
as the success of the war was, throughout,
a question of pecuniary resources. 1t
there was anything marvellous in the pros
ecution Of that great contest, it was the
successful strain put upon the national
credit while MIR. Chase was Secretary OF
the Treasury. Ii is not surprising that
Mr.. Stanton always found plenty Of brave
soldiers TO fight our battles; the flush OF
patriotism in the early stages of the war,
and the CONSUMPTION and enormous boun-
ties afterwards, sufficiently account for
that IL is not wonderful that Mr. Seward
kept Us out OF a fatal foreign war, consid-
ering his submissiveness toward England
In the Trent affair, towards France wher
she set up an empire in Mexico, and es
pecially considering the odium into which
those governments were in danger of fall
ing with their own people had they sup
ported cause Of which Vice President
Stephens had declared slavery to be 'thC
corner stone. But il ras astonishing
that means were found to feed, clothe,
arm pay, and transport the vast armies
we kept on foot ia that tremendous, pro
tracted war AT its beginning. the most
sanguine tinancier among US would have
said that thousand million dollars was
beyond the utmost stretch Of the public
credit But we spent nearly three
thousand millions beyond what we raised
IN taxes. Ii was Mr. Chases depart
mcnt. not Mr.. Stanton or Mr. Seward $
that so far outran all previous estimate of
possibilities as 20 approach the borders of
the miraculous We do not assert that
Mr. Chase financial measures were wise
but 10 must be conceded that they were
amazingly successful. This is not fit oc-
Casion tor discussing them in critical
spirit Whatever may have been their
merit or their want Of it, they furnished
the means of carrying on prodigious,
wastciul war at a cost which would have
filed the country with despair II the as
founding figures had been known before.
hand. At least as much skill was cxhib.
tied in finding the money ~ in its expendi-
ture and upposing the skill equal, il was
a far more wonderful feat 10 raise the
money than 10 enlist aud eonscript the
soldiers Without at all indorsing Mr.
Chase financial policy, we think its sue.
cess entities him 20 rank as the foremost
statesman Of lincolns Administration
No beliRennt need fail in any other kind
OF warlike resources 50 long as he cur
command money.
We suppose Mr. Chase's permanent
reputation will rest on his administration
Of the Treasury Department, As Chiei
Justice Of the Supreme Court he has
proved competent and faithful, but ha,
made no great mark. That position wa,
never quite 10 his taste. If, like Marshal
aud fancy, he had renowned every othei
aspiration when he went on the bench j
Ike each Of them, he had filed the plac,
for thirty years or more. with their single
ness Of devotion IN It's duties and thei
good health, he might perhaps have rival
ed their fame as jurists But that wa
not the vocation for which his tastes ant
training peculiarly fitted him. We havt
az least a dozen lawyers in the country
any one Of whom would have made al
equally capable Chief Justice but had W,
any other statesman who could have takeI
the Treasury Department in 1861 ant
have conducted II with equal success
That will always be regarded as the culmi
mating proof OF his abilities. His name i
n inseparably connected with the nationa
Treasury a. that Of Hamilton
He had indeed filed previous Office
with credit and distinction He was fou
years Governor Of Ohio and six years on
Of its Senators in Congress. Asa Senator h
ranked among the very abest Of his party
The weightiest speech on the Republical
side In the great debate Of 1854 on the re
peal Of the Missouri Compromise, wa
universally conceded at the time to b
- Il NJ IVl.a. l. A.
stood in Republican estimation as NOR
than the equal Of Sumner and almost tn
peer Of Seward. IL was the standing h
had acquired as Senator that caused hin
~ be thought Of among the candidates 70
President IN 1860, and compelled Mr.. Lin
coin to give him what proved to be tn,
most important place in his Cabinet
Chief Justice Chase moral qualities de
serve a warmer aud more respectful recOe
milton than belongs 10 most men in publ
life We do not use language Of so mucl
emphasis merely to indicate that he wa
pecuniarily upright Lincoln, Seward an,
Stanton were equally 30, and we shout,
be sorry II this ever came 10 be distinc
ton Mr. Chase possessed honesty of
superior kind. He was inhexibly true L
the convictions Of bis own mind, unbribet
by popular favor or the hope Of office. II
was u pronounced anti-slavery man long be
fore that question came into party politics
which is not true Of any of the other dis
tinguished leaders of the Republican par
ty. Neither Mr.. Seward, nor Mr.. Gree
ley, nor Mr.. Sumner, nor Mr.. Lincoln
grew demOnstrative ON this subject unit
after the original ant-slavery men had be
come strong enough 10 be worth cUurtinD
by the politicians But Mr.. Chase wen
into that movement from no doubtful o
double motives When he espoused th,
cause, nothing seemed 50 distant or i'm
probable as political success lie stoot
steadily by the right as God gave him l.
see the right, and political success came
as happiness comes 10 virtue The brid
was not courted for the dover. This
the ground of our judgment that Mr. Chas
occupied a higher moral level than most 4
his contemporaries. His example aud tha
of his early associates affords an instruct
i've lesson, which deserves the especial al
tention Of those politicians who never as
whether an issue ought TO be made, bu
only whether 1t is available for the mex
election The influence Of small body {
sincere, determined men is incalculabl,
If they are building on truth, their zeal
certain b. make converts and from Oh
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