Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-03-29
Chief Justice Waite Dead.

ledfn IhaJ Chlel JusJlce w ate, OF
the U. S. Supreme Court, died at
his resident 10 Washington on Fri
day morning last. Typhoid pneu-
monia, resulting from a cold taken
on the Saturday preceding, was the
immediate cause of death. All
public business in all branches of
the government were Immediately
suspended and flags displayed at
half staff throughout the country in
honor of the distinguished dead |
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Morrison Rennick Waite was the
eldest of the eight children Of Chief
Justice Henry Matson and Maria
Selden Waite He entered Yale
College at the age Of II year, aud |
graduated with honor in the class
of 1887 with William NJ. Eyarts, Ed |
wards Pierrepont, and Professor
Benjamin Siliman, Jr. After grad |
uating ne began the study of law in
his fathers Office, in Lyme. la Oct |
ober, 1888, he went to Ohio, and con.
tinued his studies in the Office of |
Samuel NJ. Young, then a prominent
attorney OF Maumee City. On his
admission to the bar in 1889 he
formed a partnership with Mr.. .
Young. Ia ls49 he was elected to
represent the Maumee District in
the Ohio Legislature. After the ex-
piration of his term, in 1850, his
firm opened an Office in Toledo, of
which Mr. Waite took charge, and
was soon acknowledged as a leading
counselor and advocate in northwest |
ern Ohio. One, who often met him
as opposing counsel, said that "his
assertion on any question of law was
always accepted as iudisputable."
In 1852 Mr.. Young moved to Toledo, |
and the firm Young u Waite con
tinued until Mr.. Waite's youngest
brother, Richard, came to the bar,
when the brothers entered into a
partnership which lasted till the SEN
Tor partners elevation to the chief
iusticeship.
POLITICALLY A WING,
until the disarmament of that party, |
since that time he was a Republican. |
An active and influential member Of
his party, he never became recog- |
uized as party leader, the conserya- /
tive tendency of his mind leading |
him in opposition to radical political |
measures. This was shown during
the war in his support Of the policy |
of President Lincoln, rather than
the more summary measures adyo- /
Gated by some of the anti-slayey
leaders. But to all the war meas
ures Of the government he gave earn.
est and effective support, making
himself especially useful in aiding /
the recruiting service of the army. |
His National reputation dates from
his selection by President Gran, in
November, 1871, as one of the three /
counsels to represent the United /
ST ties before the tribunal of arbitra-
ton at Geneva, switzerland, his as,
sociates being William NJ. Eyarts
and Caleb Cushing. This appoint
meut came to him unsought, he not
even being aware that such a posi-
tlon was to be tiled He was iu
New York closing up an important
case when the dispatch from the Sec
rotary of State advising him OF his
appointment by the President reach
eli him, being forwarded to him
from Toledo. lie Immediately ac-I
cepted this appointments and left.
for his post of duty at Geneva early
in the following month of Deem
Der, where he performed the requlr-
ed service to the entire satisfaction
of the government and the country.
HIS ALREADY coon REPUTATION
As an interchangeable and learned law
yer was greatly enhanced by the.
ah,litv which characterized his .a
bors In behalf of his country ia this
historical tribunal His argument
ON the liabliiy of the English Gov
eminent forpermitgng Confederate
steamers to take supplies OF Goa. lu
It's ports was regarded as an edor,
displaying great logical power aud
comprehensive grasp Of information
n questions On sept IL ls,-
the arbitrators rendered their decis
.tLat Grant Britain had failed i'm