Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-12

Two Pennsylvania u. 5. Attorney Gene
erals-Ei0quent Tribute OF the Living
to the Dead


by Attorney General Brewster in the Supreme
Court, at the request of the Supreme Court
bench, in memory of Judge Black:
am instructed that on an occasion Ike this
1t Is customary TO make some few remarks
am prompted not only by reason of the duty i'm
posed upon me and the custom Of the occasion
but by the sincere respect have always felt to-
ward TINS Gentleman More than thirty years
ago the constitution of PENNSYLVANIA was
changed. and the old bench of the supreme
court passed aw9y. and new men were chosen
by popular vote. At that time Judge Black was
one OF the newly-electcd judges, and became
chief justice OF the court Ii was then first
made his acquaintance. 1t was my good for
tune to enjoy comfortable practice at the bar
OF that court. and that led to social intimacy
between us which was never broken from that
time down to the day OF his death.
passed many happy moments with him; long
ana pleasant walks and talks We had together
IN years gone by. i am and ever have been
proud OF the friendship he bestowed upon me-
when L came here to hold the Office l now
occupy he was among the first to greet me-
Frequently during the past two years we spent
many cheerful hours together Within a short
time before lis death we had long warm and
earnest Interview He parted from me with
words OF tenderness and affection. | can
almost hear him now as he lett me-
But those days have gone, and he has gone
.Eheu fugaces. Postume, Postume
laDuntur ami: nee pfetaS moran
EuEi5 81 Instant scneCtae
A1ieret, in domitaeque NORTH
1t Is the recollection Of all these years of
pleasant intercourse that prompts me now to
speak as do of him; combining myself more to
my personal knowledge of him than to a recital
OF the history OF his great career. or a desCrp-
ton OF the grand qualities he possessed. Why
should speak Of them? All men know them
they are part of the common history Of the bar
OF this country-Of the country itself. The reso-
lrrri tINatT
Tor the bar OF this court, set forth in full and
strong terms the just description Of his high
characteristics.
He was remarkable man; he was wonder
full man: he had great gifts. and all who enjoyed
the benefit OF personal intercourse with him felt
the force OF his presence. | can see him now as
we all knew him, with his square, masculine
person. | shall say o. him now what have said
10 him, that he reminded me of that remarkable
character described by Charles Lamb in his
quaint and beautiful essay upon the Old Bench
ers OF the Inner Temple when he spoke of
Thomas Coventry. He said: His step was
massy and eephantine; his gait was peremptory
and path-keeping."
How often hashe stood before this court when
he had risen to the very pinnacle OF professional
hOnOr!-passing, as he did. from one point OF
promotion to another. How often has he stood
before this court displaying those wonderful
qualities, those marvellous qualities of advocacy
He was the very king of disputants. His words
were as pure and Weighty az gold. and as gilt
tering as steel No Wretcned fallacy stood in
his path that he did not pursue it with merci-
less energy until it was slaughtered at his feet
He was Scholar he was a lawyer; he was a
statesman; he was nOble-hearted. just man.
"Justum ct tenacem proposiu virum
Non ciTium ardOr prava jubentum
Non yultus inStantiS tyranni
Mtnle qult1t Solida, neque Austen
But he has passed away! And vet his labors
viii not be forgotten. They will be remem-
bered for years and years to come. The work
that he left behind him was greater than he was
himself. And so it it. the work of great thinkers
and great actors remain long after their names
sometimes have persisted from the recollection
OF men Southey, in his Doctor" says this:
That when Wilhie was in Spain, and in the Es-
curiai. followed by an old JeronOmite monk, he
wandered through the galleries of that huge
palace. looking ii its great works of art Pres
emily they stood before a large picture OF the
Last supper, hanging in the retectGry. The
monk SAID 10 him. as Wilkie CaZed at it: And
So you luo!. at that with admiration So do /
admiration mingled with other feelings. When
l entered here. a young man. there hung that
picture. All those who were in the monastery
WITH me at that time have passed away. and so
nave nearly all those who came after me: and
here remain. and here is that picture and |
look at tie figures in it and remember those
that nave been with me. likewise looking at it,
ana am sometimes tempted to think that we
are but shadows. ard that picture is the reality"
10 II Is with Gil the works of genius Of all the
great thinkers and the great workers OF this
world. Their works remain, AMI they pass
away. until like the JerOGomite we are TEMPTED
to say the works are the realities the men were
but the shadows.
And thus it is no has IN Ssed away r.,a,iuo-r1Ke
passed away, but leaving his great works be-
mind hlm-hs deeds OF forensic force and
power, done in this great tribunal in the cause
OF law and public order, and the cause of
humanity and public duty.
anuli
melancholy and yet not unpleasant sadness OF
my subject to wander off until should be in
vowed IN the deep shadows Ofsuch thoughts; but
l must remember where [ am and what | have
10 90, and so end these few words of reflection
and honest admiration for a grand man and a
dear friend: and could do it In no better way
than by adverting to sentiment expressed by
q great Judge, in great case that touches this
thought Of mortality-that mOrta lity which hay
lng come 10 him. we now meet to deplore
While we praise him. that mortality that sooner
or later must come to all of us.
In the trial of the great contest about the
tar.dOm OF oxford in the time of Charles the
FIRST, II is reported in the books that Lord Chief
Justice Crew delivered an opinion. | shall here
recall passage in his eloquent exordium that
VIII apply to my present purpose. Speaking of
the Earl of Oxford ne says:
y heard great peer OF this realm, and learned
man. say when he lived, there was no king in
ChrlstendoIn who had such a subject as the Earl OF
oxford | nave idi,Ored TO make a covenant with
myself that affection NAV not press upon iudg-
ment, Tor | suppose there is no man that hath
any apprehension OF gentry or nobleness, but
MS affection stands TO the continuance OF
so noble name and house and would
TAKE hold OF tw1g or twine thread TO uphold
II. Ana YET time hath his revolutions: there must
he q period and an end TO ali temporal things
mas Fr''aHf; an end OF names and dignities, and
whatsoever l. terrene:-and why not OF DeVere?
foT where Is BOhUn? Where is MOwbray? Where
l. MORTIMER? Nay. which Is more and most of all
Where Is Plantaganet? They entombed In the
urnS and sepulchres OF mortality
80 may we now all say: Where are all these
great worthless that have stood here before this
court, benefiting their country. honoring their
profession. and helping their race? Where are
they Where we will soon be-entombed i'm the
urns and sepulchres of mortality
The Syllable Spell.