River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-11-18

the hour came TO give answerabe expression
TO that discriminating judgment of this court in
The STATE against Doyle, which compelled the fed
eral supreme court to recede from its former de-
caration that statute of this state was void I'M
der the federal constitution and to suffer its en-
jorcement according to the mandate Of this tribu-
nal. In that result this bench and its bar as well
as the rights of the people gained signal illustra
ton.
Founded ON such learning, CIR departed leader
could not but be a great lawyer. But his profess
sional powers were not only strong, they shone
with splendor. tie was great advocate and
great orator. In many cause in the forum, upon
many platform before the people he has ex-
hibited the eloquenee and action which with their
opportunities, would have ranked him among the
great names of the world And though the
memory of the advocate be local and generally
fades with his generation, he has left in bequest
to his professional brethren some such examples Of
forensic eoquenee as they will not willingly let
die.
But he win be longest remembered and honorcd
for his work as the chief justice of this court.
lie came to this great place, rs every one
should come who Is worthy to occupy l.. He
cain the rpeness Of years and experience, at
ter a long life of labor at the bar He came
laden with profound knowledge OF the science he
was to administer. He came not from some OBJ
scure corner to sit in judgment ON arguments
greater than his understanding; he was pushed by
no skillful intrigue into a shameful reward for
mere party service: but sought and taken from the
topmost place Of professional leadership, which, by
merit, he had worthy won, he came fit TO govern
and control where for so long he had eontessedly
led
He came TO this Judgment seat with an honor
able ambition, as to the browning glory of de-
voted professional life; but he came reyerently,
with an exalted sense of the responsibilities he
assumed, and noble devotion of all his faculties
and strength to the performance of its duties lie
came to rest on no pillow of repose, but to toll
and build, that he might still higher elevate the
court and the law and exalt justice on earth
And so he bent To his task with all the con-
scientious intensity of his nature There fell to
his lot to decide and elucdate as important and in
terestng questions any which have came be-
fore this bench since its institution | need not
say in this presence with what satisfaction he eX-
pounded the views of the court. His 0pnious
were not only profound but profoundly beautiful
in every circumstance which eXetes the admra-
ton Of the lawyer. 1t is matter of no wonder
that great university of the land has chosen
them for commentator to students of law as
models Of the purity, beauty and strength of The
English tongue. They viii carry hN name with
growing honor to generations of students and
lawyers yet unborn.
Few, indeed, are the law books, where SO mnch
OF excellence in literature and law is combined to
the advantage of both; where the lamp of litera-
ture Eliminates the dark obscurites of the law
without ray Of meretricious light, where the
strength Of jurisprudence so informs words of
beautiful harmony with solid majesty like
Grecan architecture.
We can but remember too, that much of this
browning labor was done when his old frame was
broken by the weight of years and infrmities, and
torn by commissions of passion, when his hours OF
rest were diseonsoate and lonely or racked with
pain.
For with that justice he would have unsparng
ly administered. we cannot omit from view his
faults and imperfeetions. They, toe, were great.
Principal of all was his sudden and violent tenn
per. The electric current responds no quicker to
a disturbing influence, than did his wrath to an
offensive touch and its explosions are not more
furious than the Outbursts of his anger. His
passions burned when lighted like flaming vol
cano shaking him with fearful violence and
belching the hot lava of his wrath on everything
and everybody which stood in opposition. He
painful proof of the value of self-cOntrol.
For the chiefest misfortune of his life was his
weakness in presence of his own passion. That
subdued and governed him, turning his power to
his own destruction. 1t made him terrible to his
friends well as his enemies tyranical, perhaps
sometimes cruel, where he should have been gentle
and loving; suspicious and jealous where he should
have been cOnfding; violent and hostile where he
ought to have been friendly. 1t led him into false
positions from which lie too proud to with
draw. 1t stood in the path of his advancement
among men, like flaming sword. 1t turned
friends into enemies and froze off the tendrils of
love. 1t brought humiliation, grief and loneliness
to his soul and his hearthstone
Let us drop the veil over the contemplation OF
these nfnnties of Il great and noble mind. IT, as
believe these affections of character mostly
but manifestations of physical disease, which, at
varying periods and with unequal intensity spread
inflammation through the sensitive fibre OF his
brain the fault was not his own. The tear of pity
must fall at view of the sufferings his nature in
ficted. For to whatever his infrmities We're due,
he was their victim and the great sufferer. With
his death their consequences mainly cease What he
leaves behind is the product and the legacy Of his
worth and virtue. The GOOD he has done lives
after him; let the evil be inferred with his bones.
When review his life, let us turn from its
darkness and weakness and rather view him in
periods of light and power. Look on him i'll the
happy hours of health. Thus shall you perceive
the possibilities of his forces and better take the
lesson from his infrmities.
1t is for us to contemplate him he
to US, the lawyer and the judge No
lawyer ever lived whose standard of
professional excellence was exalted higher His
conception of professional morals was as noble and
refined as pure and elevating, as wisdom philoso-
phy and religion can form. He loved and honered
the profession of the law, above all occupations of
men; he reverenced it, as ''subrogated, so he
said, ION earth, for the angels who administer
Gods law in Heaven" This" said he, to the
graduating class of the law school in 1873 lis the
true ambition of the lawyer. To obey God in the
service of society; to fulfil His law in the order Of
society; to promote His order in the subordnation
of society to its own law adopted under His
thority; to minister to his justice by the nearest
approach to it, under the municipal law, which
human intelligence and conscience can accom-
plish."
lie brought to the bench this spirit and many
judgments of this court have been radiant with its
glory. They will be beacons on the track to pilot
generations of lawyers to come Let the hopeful
enthusiasm of youth look upon his virtues, and
stunning his mperfections 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 CouRT-I rise to a double
purpose-for myself, to lay twig 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
ten at the zenith of his fame, he who but yester-
day presided in this court, has passed from his
field of labor
He 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 ana energy, were
the marked characteristics of him who lowered
above all others at bar-the lawyer among
lawyers
His arguments were models of their kind-eear
in statement, clothed in the garment of classic
thought and speech, rich in metaphor, Scathing in
invectiye terrible in Pronunciation.
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 IN
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 the fux of
time The fime of the advocate cannot long sur
vve.
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 animated
with n new energy inspired with lofty ambition
To his new duty he brought the matured
powers of gifted intellect enriched by culture dis
ciplined by long professional experience. Almost
at a bound he attained to national reputation as
great judge bringing honor to his state, its
court and its bar
As jurist he was careful, painstaking studious,
discriminating; able, incOrruptbe. No nobler
crown awaits an honorable endeavor. In every
judgement be had warrant, sharp, accurate, con-
yincing. Reason his professional deity. in |
whose clear light every cause must be Judged; to
whose decree every sutton must bow. He hestated |
not to yield individual opinion to the wiser judg
ment Of the law He measured every cause by |
No human sympathy, no SUP posed |
special equity could swerve him from true judy |
mcut In vain to him the speeious plea:
'Wrest once the law TO your authority;
T.. 10 rim Il ia pfar1fr