National Republican., 1884-02-26
OBITUARY.
Sketch OF tho Life OF Hon. James II
Partridge, Ex-NIlnister 10 Poru.

Sketch Of tho Life OF Hon. James n.
Partridge, IGx-Minister 10 Peru.
A cable dispatch received at the state do
partmont announces the death Of Hon. James
r. Partridge, ex-minister to Lima, at Ali
cante, Spain. No particulars are given be.
yond the fact that Mr.. Partridge died by his
own hand. The melancholy end Of this ac-
complished man will cause profound grief
among q large circle Of friends. He be.
longed to one Of the old Maryland
families, and was by birth and train
ing thorough gentleman. Although
we'll equipped lawyer, his taste
for literary pursuits prevented him from Civ
ing close attention to his profession, and
when still young man he gave up practice
entirely. Whom the war broke ont Mr.. Part
ridge had the strength and courage to break
away from tho social influences which forced
so many of the young men Of Maryland into
the secession movement. He was one of tho
original union men of Baltimore, and with
Henry Winter Davis, Judge Bond, and few
other lawyers of distinction held out against
the storm which came near sweeping the
whole city into the vortex Of rebellion during
the first days Of tho war.
Mr.. Partridge was a warm friend of Henry
Winter Davis during his whole political
career and after the doath of that eminent
orator and statesman no published a volume
of his speeches. The only offices which he
over held were in the diplomatic service.
During the administration of President Grant
he was United States minister to Brazil. His
thorough familiarity with the Spanish Ian.
guage and diplomatic usage led to his selec-
tion by Secretary Frelinghuysen for the diff.
cult and delicate duty of rel resenting
the United States government at the capital
Of Peru while the dismemborment of that
country was in progress. As is we'll known,
he took part in conference with other
foreign ministers at Lima, at which certain
plans were discussed for restoring peace with
Chill, and that his action was not approved
by President Arthur. He was recalled, and
came home about year ago Ho soon after
ward went aboard in the hope that foreign
travel would restore his broken health.
1t may be assumed that his failing health
led to mental alienation. His wife died some
twenty years ago, leaving him two infant
daughters He was greatly devoted to them,
and they grew up into beautiful, accomplished
ladies. They were highly educated, and
could speak several of the modern languages,
in which their father was specially proficient.
They both died just as they reached woman.
hood and left him desolate. After this be-
reavement his health failed. aud he walked
about as one oppressed with grief.
Although not politician in the ordinary
acceptation of the word, Mr.. Partridge had
strong political convictions, and WAS often in
advance of the political sentiment of his
state. He urged emancipation when the more
conservative union men were trying to hold
on TO slavery. He advocated negro suffrage
when the mass of Maryland republicans weie
wrestling with old prejudices, unwilling to
accept the inevitable results of the war. His
last appearance in political canvass was in
the congressional campaign of 1870, when the
colored citizens of Maryland voted for the first
time. There was q protracted contest in the
fourth Maryland district between Gen. Adam
i. King and Hon. r. Stockett Mathews fol
tho republican nomination. Both finally
withdrew and Hon. Washington Booth was
nominated as compromise candidate. Mr.
Partridge was his warm personal friend and
took charge of his canvass. Addressing oper
air republican mass meetings in Baltimor,
was not an agreeable pastime in those days
but Mr.. Partridge spoke in all the wards o
the fourth district and dealt with the rae,
question with such discretion and modera
tion that prejudice was disarmed and nc
outbreaks occurred. Mr.. Booth was defeated
but the practicability Of free discussion wa
demonstrated
In person Mr.. Partridge was tall and rather
| slender, his manner was reserved, and he haC
but few of the elements Of popular leader
However, his fine talents and manly char
acter commanded the respect of the people
at large, and his scholarship and culture
gave him standing in the highest social and
political circles. Upright and conscientiou
in all his relations, he has left behind him tn,
record of an honorable and blameless life.