The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1874-01-29

In the selection of Morrison r. Waite,
of Ohio, for the office Of Chief Justice,
President Grant has hit the white. Mr..
Waite is fitted in every particular for
the high position to which he has been
advanced. He is lawyer who has
reached the lotticst walks in an arduous
profession by devoting thirty years Of
the best part OF his life to close study
and laborious practice. The riginti an
nos lucubrationes, which were regard
ed in England as essential to the
aspirant tor high judicial honors, have
been more than fulfilled by Mr.. Waite.
lie was young man whcn he located
and began the practice ut Toledo, Ohio.
Fortunately for all ambitious young
lawyers OF that State, its bar has ever
been able to boast that its leading mem
bcrs have been men of commanding
talents. Ohio was young State when
John Mclean, Jacob Burnett, Thomas
Morris. Peter Hitchcock and Joseph
Benham gave ulster TO the legal profess
ion, and the brilliant careers of Thomas
Ewing, Henry Stanbury, Edwin Stan
ton, Hooking Hunter, and the still later
successes Of VIM. S Groesbcck, Stanley
Matthews ard Geo. +. Pugh, and their
associates, have added to that luster.
Pursuing his studies and practice in the
light Of these examples, and compelled
to cope in intellectual conflict with such
mon, Mr.. Waite has had that exercise
and discipline which have given to o
mind naturally acute that breadth and
Ii, l. .,kc sv,unh sol in, a
Judge.
He is no politician he Is not favor
lite with the politicians. Recently, when
there was an election for delegates to
the Ohio State Constitutional Conven.
ton, Mr.. Waite's neishbors, with singu'
lar unanimi.y, requested him to repre-
sent them in that body, and when he
presented himself there his high eharac.
ter and great learning marked him as
the tittesi man to preside over its ce!ib-
cra,ions, and he was chosen its presi'
dent. The announcement of his numi-
nation TO tho Chief Justiccship found
him presiding over that convention ~
Cincinnati.
Perhaps the most brilliant part OF Mr..
Wiatcs career will be found III his labors
rs one Of the United states council be-
tore the Geneva Board Of Arbitration.
1t is stated that he was selected as the
associate OF Mr. Gushing and Mr.. Evarts
in that important business at the sug-
gss,ion OF Mr.. Evaris, ard there was not
u little snccring among Eastern lawyers
at the appointment of Western attorn-
CIV As counsel. in controversy about
important rules Of international law,
which was to be decided by such learn
ed men rs Count Sc!opls, OF Italy Jacob
Staempfi, Of Switzerland; Baron dc
TUBA, OF Brazil Chief Justice Cock
burn, Of England, and Charles Francis
Adams. Mr.. Waite's associates have
borne cheerful testimony to the value o:
his learning and iabors during the
arbitration, and the arbitrators them
selves made special mention Of the
familiarity he manifested with the settl-
cd principles of international law and
the historical prcceden,s bsarins on the
case. Upon his return to this country
leading Eastern Journal frankly
stated that OF all the Americans cngas-
ed in the case, Mr.. Waite bore OF the
highest honors.
Mr.. Waite is Of proper age. Not
much over forty, his mind has matursd
sufficiently to give it strength and sta
biity. But he is still young and pro-
srcssivs ir HIS sympa,hies. He is a
man OF the new era lie is in profound
sympathy with those essential prinei-
pies OF justice which underiie our recon-
s.ruc,ed Union. He believes in the
amendments to the Constitution, no;
because they are such de facts. nor IS a
politician who accepts the situation, bu,
as patriot who regards them As en-
bodying the eaered principles Of justice
and equality. And while the President
may haze found . more brilliant law
yer, or = more deserving partisan, be
would have searched in vain for ore
against whom 50 few valid objections
O.