The new North-west., 1888-04-06

nership with his preceptor: In 1850 the
firm of Young & Waite removed to Toledo,
where they soon gained a lucrative practice.
A little later Mr.. Waite's younger brother
took the place Of Mr.. Young in the firm, and
this partnership continued till the senior
located in Washington. In politics the
judge was an ardent Republican, but took
little part in active management. In 1849
he was elected to the Ohio legislature as
Whig, and in 1862 was a candidate for con-
gress, but was defeated by Edwin NJ. Phelps.
In all his practice he was noted as con-
ocientious and industrious lawyer; but it was
jocularly added that ho would never make
success because his charges were too small.
At length he argued some important cases
for the Atlantic and Great Western Railway
company, for which his fee was $4,000, and
this was the foundation of his fortune,
though he was never very wealthy. The
work that first gavo him national promi-
nence he did as ono of the United States
counsel before the great Geneva tribunal
It is scarcely possible to describe tho intense
interest the American people felt in that tri-
bunal; and in view of subsequent events in
Europe, there is a melancholy pleasure in re-
calling the general conviction that tho ex-
ample there set would be so generally fol-
lowed that war would soon cease. It was,
indeed, great triumph of peace principles,
but the world was not ready to follow tho
new method. Soon after closing his work
before the tribunal, Judge Waite was chosen
president Of the Ohio constitutional conven-
tiol Of 1874, position he filed with
much ability,
Chief Justice Salmon Portland Chase died
May Z, 1S73 and there was at onco great
interest to kEow who would be his successor.
President Grant was importuned by various
interests to an embarrassing extent, and
there werc suggestions and innuendoes not
very crcditablc to American politicians.
Hon. George II. Williams, former senator
from Oregon and lately attorney general,
was named by the president, but tho appoint
1nent met with such undisguised hostility
that the name was withdrawn and that Of
Caleb Gushing substituted. The storm Of
criticism and remonstrance which followed Is
still fresh in the public mind, and tho story
is not pleasant one to repeat. While Presi-
dent Grant was il q rathec irritablo state
Of mind over these two defeats he
made tour of tho west, and at
Toledo Judge Waite madc the welcoming
speech on behalf of the citizens. The presi-
dent was delighted with it. It exalted tho
the fervent patriotism Of Toledo; but was
totally free from that nauseatiEg fattcry Of
which Gen. Grant was too often the VICTIM
He said that the speaker ought to be a great
judge; that that speech showed q judicial
mind, and having made c few inquiries about
the speaker sent his namo to the senate, by
which tho appointment wa; unanimously
confirmed Early in 1872 Morrison Il. Waite
took his seat as chief justice of tho supreme
court of tho United States, place lie filed
with marked ability for fourteen years. Lore
taincd tho full viSor of mind AMI body
almost to the last, ard SO itt:o decay Of
power did he show that the peooio had but
barely time t. read the announcement. of his
sickness ere it was followed, tho sssl.c day,
by tho sad news of his death. 'Ho died in
the harness." as tho upright JUDI @ and the
Christian philosopher would prefer to die,
before the weakness Of are had dim1ned his
intellect.
The Waite family's records pre very
ancient and honorable: Thomas Waite, On
ancestor of the chief justice, was one OF tho
Judges wko pronounced sentence on King
Charles I. A coat Of arl:.s was granted the
family in 1912. Tho American branch came
to New England very early, ard Marvin
Waite was one of tho electors who voted for
George Washington. The chief Justices
father was chief justice Of the Connecticut
supreme court: Ho retired at 20 and died at
So. Several Of the family graduated from
Yale college: 1t is no small part OF the
glory of the nation to have its highest place
Of Justice filled by man of such lofty char
acter, personal purity and sound learning.