The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-27
THE NEW ORLEANS DEMOCRAT, THURSDAY 81
the best and wisest Of those who gave
its ancient raniltatinn To DIR bar

the best and wisest of those who gave
its ancient reputation to our bar.
But 1t was not to be. It Is the ineura-
BILE vice of popular forms of government
that for such men there is no place. It
clouded and saddened, though 1t did not
embitter and could not warp, tie closing
days Of his life to realize that prefer
ment must come through ways that he
could not tread and by means he would
not use. But this reflection remains:
that in all his career he was never tn @
advocate of any cause his conscience did
not fully approve-he took no fee in
cases of doubtful policy or auestiona-
BILE morals, and poor and placeless as
he was, he walked before the men, his
compeers, who had outstripped him in
all that the world holds valuable, wealth,
and fame, and popular plaudits, naked
above the clouds and his forehead to
the heavens.
| AS O scholar. he Was indisputably
among the highest. To a more than
respectable knowledge OF the ancient
classics he added O large and loving In
timacy with the best modern writer's,
English, German and French, and was
no mean proficient In the exact sciences.
An omnivorous reader, with powers Of
assimilation truly prodigious, he lived
among though not for his books, by day
and by night; and this wealth of splen-
did learning he poured out to the in
struetion and delight of all who read
! him, without knowing to what liberal
hand they were indebted for the feast.
His style was vigorous, eloquent, in
eisive; his diction copious, nervous,
exact; his illustration various, refined
and opposite. He ranked, and easily,
In the first place among the most mas
terly writer's in America on all public
questions. And high as this enccmium
seems, and injudieious as 1t may appear
to the uniformed, we can appeal to our
own columns, and TO those OF the Plea
Vttne when under Democratic control =
both Of which were constantly enriched
by his contributions on subjects Of pro-
found public policies-for our justifca-
ton.
How shall we speak of the man? 10
those who knew him not. he seemed
lofty and sour; but he was "to oil who
sought him, sweet as summer" His
invinoibie integrity, intellectual no less
than moral. bis profound earnestness,
the strength and depth of his rock
rooted conviction, gave little room for
the play Of humor, the summer Light
ming Of wit and jest which irradiate
with such charm the best converse.
But Ii in the outward mask OF tender
ness he seemed deficient. II his vehe-
ment and forcefnl utteranoes repealed
the trifler In social debate, there never
was any doubt among his intimates OF
the deep wells Of feeling whose sources
lay hidden In his great heart. We
would not invade the sanctities Of that
home which his death has darkened.
Welded to law and letters he lived and
died unmarried; but to his distinguished
brother. with whom he lived from his
cradle to his grave, and to those little
children who 80 lately chung about him
and "babbled Uncle on his knee" his
loss has brought immedicable pain.
But not immitigablel When time has
softened the stroke. and the living
presence that strengthened and cheered
has become most blessed memory to
comfort and sustain, they also will feel,
as we do. that
| Nothing Is here for tears; nothing to wall
Or knock the breast; no weakness, no con.
tempt,
Disprase or blame; nothing but well and
| fair,
And what may quiet us In life so noble"