Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-11-19

society; 10 promote His order in the suboriiuation
OF society to its own law adopted under His au-
thorty; 10 minister to his justice by the nearest
approach to it, under the municipal law. which
human intelligence and conscience can accom-
plish"
He brought to the bench this spirit and many
judgments Of this court have been radiant with its
glory. They will be beLcOns on the track to plot
generations of lawyers to come. Let the hopeful
enthusiasm Of youth look upon his virtues and
stunning ms mpeTfections, strive for his height Of
learning and power. Can the neophyte who sees
in dreams the cleaning splendor OF professional
grandeur, but attain the one and avoid the other
he may confidently expect the highest rewards to
which the noble profession leads.
Mr.. Jenkins
MAY IT PLEASE THE Couar:-T rise to a double
purpose-for myself, to lay twg of laurel upon
the grave Of the great chief justice; by command
Of the bar of Milwaukee, to execute the COM
mission to this court with which they honored me.
At the appointed age Of three score years and
ton at the zenith IF his tulao he who but yester-
day presided in this court, has passed from his
/ field Of labor.
lie died as he long wished to die in the dis
charge Of Judicial functions with mental power
undated, with his professional harness upon
him
A mind comprehensive and powerful in its
grasp; quick of perception; profound learning in
the law; close familiarity with the writers of the
past; thorough mastery and precision of language,
classical beauty Of dction; wonderful power of
imagery; great nervous force and energy, were
| the marked characteristics of him who lowered
above al Others at our bar-the lawyer among
| lawyers.
His arguments were models of their kind--elear
in statement, clothed in the garment Of classic
| thought and speech, rich in metaphor scathing in
invectiye terrible in denuncaton.
These, unhappily, will soon be forgotten. The
fame of the advocate is ephemeral, fading with
the memories Of those who heard him. We write
the record of our lives upon the sand. The m
coming tide of succeeding generation blots out the
record forever; and So the wonderful pleas Of Ed
ward George Ryan. addressed to court or jury,
will pass from remembrance with tho fuN Of
/ time. The fame of the advocate cannot long sur
/ yiyc.
He will, however, be long and best remember
ed by his record upon the bench. Called late
| in life to high judicial station, he seemed eminatcd
with new energy inspired with lofty ambition.
To his new duty he brought the maturel
powers 1T gifted Intellect enriched by culture dis
ciplned by long professional experience. Almost
| vt IL bound lac attained to national reputation MS
great judge, bringing honor to his state its
court and lts bar.
| As iurist he was careful, painstakiug studunf
| discriminating; able, meorruptible. No nobicr
crown awaits IN honorable endcaYor In every
judgement he had warrant, sharp, accurate, con
! Nlllilnk. htlSuu was ms prpItSSlulul uCltE, IN
whose clear light every cause must be judged; to
whose decree every snitor must bow. He hestated
not To yield individual opinion T. the wiser judg-
mrut Of tue Law. lie measured every cause by
| principle. No human sympathy, no supposed
| special equity could swerye him from true judy
mrnt. in vain to him the Fpecious plea;
"Wrc,t once the law to your authority
To do Il great right, do little wrong
And 50 the record of his Judgment is u record
~ ItI ~
| cc'lent returning to plague the inventor,
His opinions, rs his addresses models in
consciousness Of statement, eholceness Of language
elegance ~ diction. Every word has its uppro-
pirate office, fruitful IN force, pregnant with
meaning. Rarely do they contain obit,r dictd. He
was content to ruiz the essential point involved.
lie nul learned that most difficult Of judicial les
sons hen to stop.
His great service to the state may not BIO
measured. The principles of law established
during his t2nurt Of office must find their full
| consequence in the future. His mind, aiding to
determine great rules OF action has thus been
woven with the warp and woot OF human society,
largely influencing mems business anl mems
| lives Vino mag place bounds to his sway
Who LGly measure the effectiveness of his life !,
lsnou h ~ say that the Immortality Of his in
turncr !. IN the line Of the Immortality Of Justice
The lltc VI Judge Ryan was one long struggle
"A struggle against himselt-a struggle against
unoward tortIme--u struggle against inirlnity
which the world knew little of and allow ed not
FOR. And SO to most men he seemed arrogant and
proud whereas, to those who knew him best he
was, when acq,dt of uHrnity, companionable and
considerable
liz possessed none Of the arts OF the courtcr
llr would neither bow SubscrriCnt to power, nor
pc patient IN the presence Ut wrong and oppres-
flon Like thu oak of the forest, he could break
pvt eouldnot bend. Power ght crush hiG--it
could not siloncs him. 80 he WINS often the cham
pion of the lowy against the POWERFUL think
ont OF adherence Of the oppressor rather than
from sympathy g the oppressed. lie hated the
wrong more than he loved the victim Of the
wrong.
Such iuan conld never be popular; he never
sought to be. lie dcspscd the popularity thut is
run after. He challenged the fame that waits mp
on grand deeds, upon great intellectual and moral
power Men admired him The world recognized
grand intellect, and maryelcd Mt its power. il
apprehended his great requirements and honorcd
him. Put it could not love him. Ii neither com
pretended the man, nor allowed tor his inhrmity.
Indeed, he never sought the worlds appreciation.
lie was all-suticiCnt to himself He shut himself
mp within himself, asking neither sympathy nor
love. lie seemed OF different mould from other
men; above the need of sympathy, or too proud
to claim il. IT, pcrchanee, within the silence Of
his chamber, there came Mt last, with cbhing life
yearnlng for human sympathy, or human love,
! he vet made no sign. lie died rs he had lived
grand, gloomy and peculiar wrapt
in the solitude Of his own originality
! The future, not the present, do full justice
to great jurist. The sottcnng touch Of time
bloting from the memory every human frailty Of
his nature, will preserve for honor and for exam
| pie the high cndowments and vast attninments of
master mind trust the future The people
Of this commonwealth, whose Jurisprudence he
! has moulded into symmetcry and based upon the
sure foundation of reason and of right this high
appellate court of which he was the ornament and
the chief the bar of Wisconsin, ennobled by his
connection with it, and of which he was as well
tho actual as the official head, will fttingly honor
the name and secretly preserve the fame of the
grrat chief justice.
MAY il PLEASE YouR HoNoRs:The bar Of
Milwaukee, N memorial of him. who was one Of
us and Of whom we are proud, but who in larg-
er measure belonged to the state, have deemed it
fitting. with your permission TO place upon these
walls the portrait Of the late chief justice; and
| have commissioned me, in their names, TO tender
the picture to the court. II seemed to them be-
coming TINT the likeness Of the great judge should
grace the court in which he had presided in per
! petual remembrance and honor Of him, aud for
example to us who for 30 little time remain and
q thora who shull SO soon succeed us--ia the
I truthful language be once employed on like o.
! CiSiont
" IS memorial Of life sealed in honor and
i usefulness by lvath-and AZ mn instruction to US