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

opinions, perfectly judicial but turning from that
path only to bring in gems of beauty by the way.
To be able to write as Edward q. Ryan has writ
ten, is crown of glory in letters sufficient title
| to literary renown.
He cultivated conversation, and, as ! have
thought not onty for its pleasures but for sit
benefits To him. Certain II Is he sAone in social
discourse with brlianey not often equalled In
| happy hours, when IN health and spirits, who more
delightful than he His rapid and ensy speech
was wise or witty as the time and subject suited
but always sweet in the simplicity and purity Of
the language no employed. He was ever CON
! spicuous fur elegant diction in ordinary speech ;
nor did the tumult Of emotion passion which
sometime. possesse him mar this accom- ltshnt ut
Or lead him to yulgarity. 1t rather secuted to
heghtcn and intensity his powers and clothe his
/ expressions with a richer color.
! Thus the sel-impnsed habits and discipline of
his entire life finished and perfected all the powers
Of the man lie met all the points OF Bacons
aphorism reading mnde him full man confer
ence ready man I; and writing an exact man.
Viewing his finished character and faculties, as
trained and accomplished by his course OF educa-
tion, and describing tho faults Of temperament
and want Of self control, which bighted his life,
CASING up the account Oh his credit side only how
splendid and magnificent does he appear, the
ideal and mirror Ut professional power and glory
His learning Of the law was thorough and pro-
found. 10 him the science Of Jurisprudence was
An open book, every page familiar to his eye. He
was trained in its technical learning, and yersed
III the long line OF precedents and judicial opinions,
which support and explain its nice distinctions
md sometimes arbitrary doctrines But he wns
| tar beyond that plane, the level only Vi the com
! petc lawyer. lie knew the Inv far more
profoundly he mad trayersed the great super
structure with patient examination from it, deep
cst foundations to the last pinacle the turret.
| lie raw it not merely rs a bullded thing, aeknowl
e'igin9 its parts and relations because he found
them So He knew the principles on which its
| toundatuIr rests, which support its noble walls,
and partition its manifold hdepartments, which
inspire its pillars nnd its arches, which gid its
towers with light and till its secret with
! the blessing Of Justice FIR men, He knew il us an
architect who might have buildcd it, and who
could finish IL harmony with the whole, the parts
on which his duty set him " work
Ana not alone the common lawthe law Of ma
! ture AS applied to the relations of men among
thcmsclyes- his perception of the complex
and delicate relations of the different portions and
civll divisions of the union md of the various du
ties and powers of It's numerous officers and tribu-
mails, federal and state, was sngularly acute and
comprehensive. Though native Of another
land, he had from hnyhood profoundly contcm-
! plated the wisdom of the fathers of this country
OF his adoption; and he was fit and ready when
| the hour came, to give unansweri.ble expression
to that discriminating Judgment Of this court in
ne INftte n1uIfih ffUWc Wlllcn c0lnptlItu the cu
eral supreme court To recede from its former de-
claratiun that statute of this state was void
der the federal constitution and to suffer its
lorccmcnt according to the mandate OF this trihu-
nal. In that result this bench and its bar. as we'd
MS the rights Of the people, gained signal llluhtra-
ton.
Founded on such learning rur departed leader
could not but be u great lawyer But his profess
sonal powers were not on y strong, they shone
with Fpcndor lie was great advocate and
grcnt orator In many acalse in the forum, upon
many platform before the people he has es-
hibited the eloqucncc and action which, with their
opportunities, would huye ranked hiIu among The
grent names of the world And though The
memory of the advocate he local and generally
fades with hls generation, he has left IN bequest
to his professional brethren some such examples Of
forensic coquence thry viii not Willingly let
die"
But he will be longest remembered aud honorrd
for his work as the chief justice of this court.
lie came to this great place, ns every one
! should come who is worthy to occupy il. He
me cain the ripcncss of years and experience, AZ
ter a long life of labor ut the hn,. lie came
laden with profound knowledge Of the science he
was to administer. He came not from some oh
| fcure corner, to sit in judgment ON arguments
greater than his understanding; he was pushed 10y
no skillful intrigue into a shameful reward for
mere party SERVICE but sought aud taken from the
tOpmost place OF professional leadership which, by
merit he had wouhily won, he came tit to govern
and control whore for SO long he had confessedly
led
He came to this Judgment seat with an honor
able ambition, AZ to the browning glory OF Il de
voted professional hfe but he came rovcrently,
with mn exalted sense of the responsibilities he
assumed and a noble devotion OF NIL hia 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 tho law, md exalt justice on earth.
AL. lnh 30 hss touE will all Iia ppO
scienlious intensity of his nature There fell to
his lot to decide and eueidate MS important and in
teresting questions as any which have came be-
fore this bench since its institution need not
say IN this presence with what satisfaction no en-
pounded the views of the court. His opinious
were not only profound, but profoundly beautiful
in every circumstance which cXotes tho 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 rs
models OF the purity, beauty aud strength OF the
English tongue. They will carry his name with
growing honor to generations of students and
| lawyers vet unborn.
Few, indeed, are the Jaw books, where so much
of excellence IN literature and law is combined to
! the advantage OF both; where the lamp Of ltera-
turc 50 Eliminates the dark obSenrties OF the law
without aY of mcretricious light, where the
strength of jurisprudence informs words OF
| beautiful harmony with seid majesty like
| irccian architecture.
| We can hut remember, too, that much oil TINS
browning labor was done when his old frame was
broken by the weight Of years and indrmities, and
torn BY commissions Of passion when his hours Of
rest we're diseonsolate and lonely or racked with
pain.
For with that justice he would have unsparing-
| ~ administered, we cannot omit from view his
faults and imrcrfcctons They, too were great.
| Principal Of all his sudden and violent tom
per, Tho electric current responds no quicker 70
n disturbing influence than did his wrath to an
offensive touch; and its explosions are not moro
! furious than the outbursts of his anger. His
passions burned when lighted like u flaming vol
cnuo. shaking him with fearful violence. and
| bclching tho hot lava Of his wrath everything
and everybody which stood in opposition. lie
was painful proof Of the value Of solf-control,
| For the chieteSt misfortune OF his lie was his
weakness in presence Of his own passion. That
subdued and governed him. turning his power to
| his own destruction, II made him terrible to his
| friends well his enemies tyranira, perhaps
sometimes cruel whore he should have been gentle
and loving, suspicious and Jealous, where he should
| have been confding, violent aud hostile, wher he
| ought to have been friendly. II led him into false
! positions from which he was tee proud to with
drnu, It stood in the path of his advancement
among men, like hamirg sword. L 'urncd