The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-14
Legal, But Not Wise.

Legal, But Not Wise.
The controversy over tho Vanderbilt
will drags its slow length along through
hearing after hearing before the Surrogate.
The legal right of the parties to begin this
litigation was complete, and their legal
right TO continue to carry it on Is unques-
tlonable Tho opportunity TO litigate before
tribunals having jurisdiction is one of the
prime purposes for which government is
established. The courts are open TO the
VANDERBTLTs as they are open to other
people, and il they choose to go to law
brother with brother, no one can say
them nay. But the public enjoy the
equally indsputable right of forming their
own opinion OF the litigation, and we
think the universal judgment is that its eff
feet upon the reputation Of the deceased
Commodore and upon the standing OF the
Vanderbilt family generally has been
most injurious. Still the legal right to in
cur this injury to the living and to innict it
upon the memory Of the dead existed II the
parties most nearly concerned chose to re-
sort to II. There are those, however who
cherished an admiration and n regard for
the courtly old gentleman who regret to see
him made to cut such figure, and to see
his sons appear upon public stage in such
unsecmly characters after his death. They
think that persons worth hundred millions
of dollars might afford TO indulge In some Of
the brothcry love which Is source Of
greater happiness than the sordid love Of
gain can ever supply They think with all
his wealth the Commodore was unfortunate
in not having among his thirteen children a
GITM "a "A I wi xypplI haN.a Iaap
as considcrate Of his memory rs the two
faithful sons Of NOAH were Of their father
Mr. Vanderbilt was remarkable man.
His energies were devoted almost exclu-
sively to business, and it is difficult on that
account to compare him with those who
have stood foremost as scholars and states
men; but we think it is safe to say that he
was one Of the greatest men OF the age. His
early opportunities and advantages Of edu-
cation were extremely limited. An old sea
captain who knew him well used to say 1t
was fortunate that the Commodore was not
educated for had be been he would have
been god
nations richest and rarest treasure con-
sists OF its great characters. We would fain
have seen the grand features OF the old
Commodore preserved in their finest aspect
and proportions. 1t is not SO much that his
giant stature has been dwarfcd by the evil
dence on the trial, as that it has been dis
figured An attempt was even made to dis
tort his patriotic deed Of giving ship
worth million dollars to the Government
into an act OF meanness.
OF course nothing that we may say will
exert any effect upon the course Of the
Surrogate; but we would not so much as
seem to be guilty Of the improperly Of
seeking TO influence his decision What We
say therefore is not said with reference to
the strict legal merits Of tho case as they
may ultimately be developed. But an OBJ
server can hardly refrain from remarking
| that if Mr. SCOTT LORD IS to fulfil the eX-
| traordinary and almost incredible promises
| Of his opening he is extremely slow about 1t.
| II, however, he cannot fulfil these, and they
are to be broken, still the dead and the
| living have both been fearfully damaged.
What shall it profit a man II he gain hun
dred millions and have his own flesh and
blood held up, week after week, and month
after month, to contumely and scorn-hs
father represented as cruel and brutal, and
his own justification of the cruelty and
brutality of his father being that his own
brother, made OF the blood Of his father and
mother the blood that runs in his veins and
his chidrcns, is a knave and thief?
Better, for decency's sake, to have made q
generous present Of few Of the many mil
lions TO that brother, perverse though he
may bc but cpleptic and unfortunate as he
certainly is. The law Of the land does not
compel it, but then, Behold how good and
how pleasant it is for brethren TO dwell to-
gether in unity 1t is like the precious ONT
ment upon the head that ran down upon tho
beard, even AARoN's beard; that went down
to the skirts Of his garments; as the dew Of
Hermon, and as the dew that descended
upon the mountains Of Zion: for there the
Lord commanded the blessing, even life
| fDrpVcrmOrp