St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-04

ambition, are SIR geeiing with the iatricacies
Of the law The tsi.i entities of Practice, ard
the emi)afa m ,iit- of iiezparienee. he owes
a charitable coils deration Ut their mistakes
and a kind ere .mragemnnt to Their honest
efforts towards the discharge Of their profess
sional daties.
lie must tie an Industrious student. for,
however great his experience. and however
well yerSed he may be in the general i.rlil-
cipleS of law. 1t is nevertheless. the fact that
new modes OF life, new inventions, new dis
coyeries of powerful agents i'll the transac-
ton of human affairs. the immense growth
of material Interests, and the enlarged GPpll-'
cation of ED agencies to changed conditions
of things as well as new and sometimes care
lessly worded and conflicting statutes, are
constantly giving rise 10 novel aid eompll-
Gated questions that task the learning and
require the close and laborious study of the
judge for their proper determination. He
must not be swayed by popular clam0r. and
yet must not unnecessarily fiout the intelii-
gent opinion of the community. He must be
close and severe in logic. and yet be able to
see where strained logic leads to absurd or
unjust results. | cannot avoid some refer
ence 10 The cares and responsibilities OF the
judge. His discharge Of official duties brings
him into relation with all the different
phases of social. domestic and business lie,
and into such relation as to seriously affect
the rights OF property, of reputation. of per-
sonal liberty and the comfort and happiness
of the community.
Delays, too there will sometimes be in the
determination of important litigation, for
judges Gf | may be permitted TO use the
homely but expressive pnrase) sometimes
bite off more than they can chew, and are
sometimes loaded down with more business
than they have the physical Or mental ability
to dispose of properly with desira bic prompt
ness. And hence delays arise that are ex-
asperating, if not sometimes almost ruinous
to suitors, harassing to counsel, and so
painful TO the judge as to seriously interfere
with his comfort and enjoyment of life. The
discretion OF the judge, too, though wisely
limited by law, is frequently to be eXerted
under painful circumstances, where disas-
trous results may arise from mistaken action.
and where he has not the satisfaction of
knowing, as in ordinary cases, that his mis-
takes will be remedied by higher authority
The power of the judge is far reaching. 1t
extends into the business affairs of the COM
munity and TO the most sacred relations OF
life. 1t may interfere between husband and
wife. 1t may take the young child from its
mothers arms 1t may protect the poor and
the weak against the rich and the strong, or,
il unWisely exerted, may aid the grasp
ing, the heartless and the unjust
1t may aid the government i'll the
punishment of crime, and it may shield the
innocent from the improper exercise of Off
cial power. 1t may control charities and In
terfere with the most extensive and lmpor-
tant business transactions.
ututtculCIl, lldNt uO OCCdSiOu. DIT l1lc ClOoC
of my official life, ito unduly magnify mine
Office but these considerations are proper
to be Impressed upon the community and to
be regarded by them III determining on
whom to place these responsibilities and
whom they will intrust with this great
power. When these powers and RESPONSE
bilities are so faithfully and wisely exerted
and borne as to exclude the errors incident
to humanity, you may have The ideal judge,
a judge whose life is paralleled even with
CIV In md hn linz off &c ircti
Gentlemen, 1 am profoundly grateful for
the appreciation of my Official conduct
which you have shown upon this occasion.
1t is now twenty-siX years since, with heslta-
ton and much misglying, l took my seat
upon the bench of this judicial district. The
bar of this county was then, as it has always
been, adorned by gentlemen of much learn
ing, of great ability, high honor and great
professional courtesy. There was very little
sharp practice known in those days, and |
am happy to say that there has been little of
it since. Sharp contests there have been
over technical points, for techncalities are
to some extent necessary in the practice OF
the law, and have their uses in the admins
tration of justice. But favors were freely
granted, verbal agreements were respected.
and kindly feelings prevailed. Strong pas
sions have sometimes been reused, and eX-
citing passages have occurred amid the con-
ficts OF the forum; but it is with much salts
faction | recall the fact that never during my
long experience has there been a personal
collision i'll the courts of this district
Many of the distinguished ornaments of
the bar of these early days have passed away.
Some still remain to grace this occasion by
their presence, while many who were then
but in the bud Of promise have grown into
noble maturity: young men there are too,
well equipped and with honest ambition,
who bid fair to keep up an honorable sue
cession. 1t is with much pleasure that re-
call to mind the early members of the bar.
for to their learning, eloquence and ability
feel much indebted for whatever success
may have attended my discharge of Official
duty. No judge can, unalded. amid the con-
tinual pressure of judicial duties. give Just
and full consideration to all the points of
complicated cases 1t is the duty and prov
ince of the lawyer to aid and instruct the
judge, and strong bar, as is well said, is apt
to make a good judge. u
Gentlemen, it must need be thatin seyering
my connection with the bench, after so long
a term of service, and my official association
with the members of the bar, an association
marked by such kind support and courtesy
upon their part, sad feelings will arise and
strong emotions prevail. But your generous
appreciation of my efforts, as this day shows.
has done much to make this occasion one of
pleasurable interest. And you may be
assured that if the time ever comes to me as
it has to others, when little of life is LETT but
the memory of the past. the recollection of
this event will sweeten my declining years.
During the response the speaker was
frequently interrupted with enthusiastic
applause.
w. E. BramhaH here arose. and, after
referring to the reputation of Judge
Wilkin in the home of his Doyhood in
New York, and for a long period of
years in Minnesota. said the hosts of
the evening had preserved the original
manuscript of some of Judge Wilkins
decisions while on the bench, and they
had been bound in two volumes and in-
seribed: wilkins Nisi Prius De-
cisions of 1890, Volumes l and H."
ana he was Authorized to present them
to the judge. As they were excellent
limitations of books done in clay. the
presentation was enjoyed as pleas
antry.
The toast 1.-The Judiciary" was pro-
posed with the following sentiment:
The intellectual department of the govern
ment-"co-ordipate'' in name only.
ITO conserve the rights the people have,
and to remedy the wrongs they suffer. the
most grateful and important office discharged
by man."
Judge r. r. Nelson, Of the United
States district court, made all eloquent
response, In which he referred to his in
innate acquaintance with Judge Wilkin
for over thirty years, and bore testi-
inOHy W HIS DelllS q coITect Juuee.
The Ramsey county bar was proposed
in the following sentiment,
1--WE do as adversaries do in law,
Strive nightly but eat and drink as friends"
0. E. Holman responded in a speech
that was fitting to the subject.
The farewell sentiment,
"a word that must be and hath been,
sound which makes us linger--yet farewell I"
was responded to i'm number of short
speeches. And the guests and enter
tanners left for their homes with regrets
that an actual good bye must be said.
o.
HIS FINAL WORK.