The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-16
ANALYSIS of His Life, Character, Career
and Influence Upon America.
HIS FINANCIAL POLICY.
Senator, Secretary and
Chief Justice.
Inside History Of the Legal
Tender Measure

The LIFE SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. BY
Robert b. Warden. CINCINNATI, Wistocn, Moore
THE LIFE AND TINES OF SALMON P. CHASE BY
J. W. Schuckers. New York, ID. Appleton Co.
In spite OF the fact that solemn patitudes upon
the uses of biography no longer allowable it Is
not easy approach the discussion OF the lives Of
such men as Salmon P. Chase without some diver
Cence toward what was once a iavorite method OF
composition. 1t will suffice our purpose In this
instance, however, to say that biography Is the
handmaiden OF history, and that the annals Of
modern States are mostly found in the lives OF
their greatest statesmen. At the same time
1t is true there are few men in any age
whose biography posterity will require. In
our Revolutionary era there were three. perhaps
Washington, John Adams and Jefferson. Hamil-
ton was subject for paper in the quarterly re-
views, ana Burr only o theme for impassioned
young orators on the lyceum platform. The next
era in our history, the era of American statesman
Ship has but three great fgures-Ciay, Calhoun and
Webster. John quincy Adams left US his story in
his diary; Jackson could only be handled by the
panegyrst, and Benton built his own monument in
his Thirty Years. View in the senate" We are
not sure that the era Immediately preceding the
rebellion left any really great figures in history
We are doubtful even whether stephen A. Douglas
rose to the height Of biographical nsces
sity. The rebellion left certainly but three
Lincoln, Seward and Chase-and none OF
them has yet found worthy biographer
Ward Lannon's "Lie Of Lincolnn was travesty
upon historical biography. The long promised
''Iife OF Seward" is still family matter
This leaves only the "Life Of Chase" which
is in so many hands, and, as we shall show pres
emily, in one instance at least, in very incapable
hands, that we fear his character is to be marred
by those VINO would picture 1t for posterity.
WHO SHOULD WRITE CRAsE's LIFE9
Even before Mr.. Chases death it was question
who should become his biographer Immediately
upon the death Of the Chief Justice it became
very grave question; for 1t was then dis
covered that Mr.. Chase's diaries were in the
possession OF one r. b. Warden, man who had
prsctised the profession OF the law in many Ohio
towns, and, while sim very young, had sat upon
the Supreme Bench Of the State. Judge Warden
had never given evidence Of great literary talent
or comprehensive craftsmanship, and it was q
surprise when it was announced that he
Chases chosen blographer. Still Judge Warden
apparently had qualifications tor the task which
could not be easily gainsaid, at least in advance
Of the publication OF his book. He put himself
forward private secretary to the Chief Justice,
as well as MIR. Chases 0d-tme personal friend, and
thus seemed, in some important respects, the very
person for che undertaking. Mr.. Chase's
more intimate friends knew however, that
during the most important epoch Of his
lile-whlle he was Secretary Of the Treasury,
under Mr.. Lincoln-that another person had on
GATED IN the double capacity which Judge Warden
claimed. and that the personal relations between
the Chief Justice and his former private secretary
we're not broken Oh till Mr.. Chase's death. Il was
known besides that Judge Warden had not lived in
Washington more than six months previous to
that event. 1t was no wonder then that some
prise should be expressed that Warden was
Cnase's CHOSEN biographer, but 1t was to be hoped
q
1t was known ne had held different views until
within few weeks OF his demise. 1t must be
membered In this connection that during his life
time Mr.. chase spoke freely on the subject OF his
future bographer, and it IS said that a year or
two previous to his decease he declared to
his family that while he did not know what Mr..
schuckers' literary qualifications would be. Mr..
Schuckers was OF all men best fitted for the task.
MI Schuckers Is the man who had occupied the
relations toward MIR. Chase which Judge Warden
claimed, and it was not surprising when the APP.
pletons announced his 'Iie Of Chaser as In course
OF speedy publication.
JUDGE wARDES's QUALIFICATIONS FOR BIOGRAPHICAL
WHITING.
We shall give q complete account OF the scope
and character OF Mr.. SchucKers' work in suose-
quent part OF this article, but Tor the present we
confine ourselves 10 consideration OF the qualif
cations of MIR. Chase's other biographer. Before
we enter upon this part Of the subject,
however we wish to say that the re-
ports that Mr.. Hiram Barney was engaged
In similar work are untoQnded, and
consequently Judge Warden's sarcasm upon the
daughters OF Mr.. Chase, which have appeared IN
the newspapers In connection with "Barney's Life
OF Chase,r fail to the ground. But If "Barney's
Life OF Chase' exists only in warden's imagina-
ton his own work Is, indeed, TOO much OF reality.
We have before US the Introductory chapters to
Judge warden's biography, and we may be par
doned Tor saying at the outset that anything
worse IN the way OF English composition has never
been written. The style is gawky and obscure.
The imagery Is abundant but IL has the same re-
iaton TO literary art that the Cardiff giant bears
to Phdian sculpture. Judge Warden mistakes a
liberal use OF the dictionary for the splendors Of
dicton, and he prefers the sunnowers to
the nowers OF rhetoric. He can neither
paint portrait with dlstinctness OF
outline nor state a fact with clearness OF express
sion. Aud yet he hints that TINS work has been
undertaken under special law OF composition
by which his own language Is 10 blend harmoni.
ously with that OF the late Chief Justice, where.
upon he breaks out into this apostrophe TO his own
genius engaged In its lofty undertaking $50
may this work avaIl Itself OF superior style and
diction, and so may the reader soon begin to see,
as Ia a faithful glass the man whose very physiog.
nomy as well as his distinctive traits and tenden.
cies, these pages naturally wish 10 make familiar,
just as soon "a may be, TO pergsers OF their reve-
lations.r Perusers OF their revelations, will,
we fear, nnd nothing In Judge Warden's
pages more astonishing than this promise. and
few persons We suspect, Will look for the faithful
glassr in which alone they Judge Chase g
every physiognomy "a well as his distinctive
traits and tendencies" man who could write a
paragraph at once 30 feeble ana pretentious
should be content with his achievement and die
before completing his work; but Judge Warden,
we Twin live to the full effects OF his rdyesty
upon the life OF a great man.
JUDGE wABDEN's COMMISSION AS cHAsE's Br0GRA.
PHEK.
In view OF such astonishing un1tness for task
30 important u becomes interesting 70 ascertain