Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-01-17
De attn Of Judge Bradford.


The State of Delaware has sustained
a heavy loss in the death of Judge
Bradford, of the United States District
Court of Delaware, but the loss falls
more heavily upon Wilmington, where
he was better known and where he
passed the whole of his active business
life. Judge Bradford was one of those
firm, positive kind of men, who, when
they were sure they We're right, could
not be swerved by popular favor or
popular dissent.
To be right with him and to main
tain the right was leading character
OF his life, and he always looked upon
this principle as the highest type OF
manhood. In whatever position he
was placed he exhibited that independ-
ence that put him beyond the reach OF
superserviceable influences He was a
born leader, and though always willing
to learn from others and to accord tt
others their full merits he was IA for.
mulator Of his own ideas and opinions
1t was not necessary for him to b,
trained in the school of liberty, to be
taught that slavery was an evil. Hi,
own inherent sense of right and justice
taught him so, and following those con
victions we find him early in life an
uncompromising foe of slavery, and
always ready to condemn it even though
doing so made him unpopular Posses
sing these principles it was not at all
surprising that he was even in Della,
ware on the stump in favor of the cleo.
ton Of Fremont to the Presidency be-
cause his election would mean the death
blow to slavery. Though not posses,
sing as pleasant a delivery as many
other public speakers, his imprisoned
earnestness and eloquence made up for
every other defect, and when it was
known that he was to speak, he was
always sure of meeting good audience
anxious to hear him.
He was pardonable for an ambition
to become United States Senator from
Delaware, position to which he would
have brought the most exalted abilities,
and which he would have graced with
honor.
Had he lived in any other State where
the party to which he was allied was in
power he no doubt would have had his
ambition gratitied. He would have
made worthy successor in the Senate
from Delaware of the Rodneys, the elder
Bayards and the Claytons.
Mr.. Bradtord's independence was
shown in 1866 when he was filling
the office of the United States District
Attorney for the Court of which he at
forwards became the judicial head, by
resigning his office when President
johnson, who appointed him apostatized
and went back to the party from which
he came in a war emergency. Mr..
Bradford preferred rather to rrlinquish
a high office Of trust and honor.
than to seemingly acquiesce III the prin-
ciples of political apostate. But
Judge Bradford requires no eulogy at
our hands. He spent nearly all his
life amongst lis. He was known by all
in Wilmington. He has left behind
him as the best inheritance for his
children pure and stainless record of
official trust and responsibility.
As citizens of Wilmington, Of Della
ware, we are proud Of that record
AS he has been called, slightly before
reaching the age allotted 10 man, to
end an honorable life and to reap we
trust rich reward, let the public
pause a moment in the race Of life to
drop silent tear as tn" nohlcst tribute
that can be rendered to the deceased |
Judge |