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

J-fTfJGE WI n ~ ling OF ladies.
Sheriff Ed S. Bean, with Gordon of
deputies, attended to the seating of the
assembly, r. L. O'Connor, clerk of the
court, sat at his desk, thanked on
either side by a number of dep
utieS. Among the prominent gentle
men III the room were Gov. William X.
Merriam. ex-Gov. Ramsey, Mayor Rob-
crt Smith; Judge Il. r. Nelson, of the
United States district court; Judge
Charles E. Flandrau; Chief Justice Gill
fllan, of the supreme bench. and AS
s0ciate Justice Dickinson; D. .LaWler,
J. j. McCatferty, Judge Hicks, of Min
neapolis; Judge Hooker, of Min
neapolis; ex-United States Senator Nc
tlilau, Ambrose Tighe, Judge j. j.
Egan, Judge John Twohy, John W.
Willis, DIR. David Day, Comptroller
Roche. City Trearurer George Refs,
County Treasurer A. N. Nelson. j. G.
Michael, Hon. William p. Murray,
|. V. d. Heard, Hon. John M. Gilman,
II. j. Horn, H. r. Bigelow, Hon. John
B. Sanborn, Aid. w. Il. Sanborn, Hon.
II. f. Stevens, Hon. John B. Brsbin,
Col. w. p. Clough, Judge Greenleaf
Clark, Judge w. Lusk. II. l.. Williams,
W. p. Warner, c. N. Bell, George b.
Young, j. d. O'Brien, c. d. OBrien,
James Smith Jr., counsel OF Du-
luth road, one Of the oldest members
of the bar; Alfred S. Hall, S. p. Crosby.
At two o'clock Sheriff Bean escorted
the six judges of the bench. led by the
venerable Judge Wilkin, into the room.
The entire audience arose and remained
standing until the judges had taken
seats on the bench and Sheriff Bean
had announced that the district court
for the Second judicial district of the
state of Minnesota was in session pur
suant to adjournment. Judge Flandrau
took the floor and said:
Judge FIandrau's Tribute.
May it please your honors: l rise in the
performance of a duty entirely foreign TO
such as usually calls us together in these
halls of justice. Most of the events that as
semble men together in the varied affairs of
life partake either of joy or regret; but the
occasion which uiliteS us to-day includes
Them both. A retrospect of the past quarter
of Il century, during which Judge Wilkin has
presided over the judicial department of this
district. when viewed with all eye to his con-
duet or its affairs can inspire but one Sentl-
ment in the minds of both professional men
and citizens generalIy-that of pride and adj
miratiOn for his urhane department under
all circumstances; his exercise of an in
spired wisdom, profound learning. stern
impartiality and an eyeu-handed justice all
sOftened by tender sense of mercy, prop
ery and judciOuSly beStOWed-and to feel
that our judicial treasury is TO be robbed of
these Jewels causes us unspeakable regret.
When we cast our eyes forward we see our
much beloved and revered judge and friend,
relieved of the cares and responsibilities of
the judicial Office, basking in the sunshine of
universal friendship. entering upon new
career of undisturbed happiness, sharing his
garnered stores of culture, knowledge and
experience with those fortunate enough to be
f,tz <1ra n II
another lighter and more pleasing field seeds
which will doubtless produce harvest as
valued as that which has been reaped in the
past.
such prospect cannot fail to inspire us
all with sentiments of pleasure, even when
reached through the sacrifice that creates it.
Judge Wilkin came of high and honora-
BILE lineage His earliest impressions were to
be truthful, true and just, not for the ap-
plause of man or the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
self, but for the sake OF truth, right and JUS
tce; and this imperishable foundation, i'm
bedded in the plastic mind of infancy, has
been the sole basis of his long and useful
life. Never has he been known to swerve
the breadth of hair from the straight and
narrow path of rectitude.
He received classical and professional ed
ucation in his youth, and at very early
period in his career he was called to an i'm
por.ant juG;ci Il position in his native state
of New York.
came among us full of the ambition of youth
and practiced his profession with success.
1t would be impossible in new country of
disorderly habits, but with sagacious popu-
lation, for such valuable acquisition as
Young Wilkin to remain long unrecogniZed.
In 1860 he was called to the bench of this
district and for many years performed, I'M
aided, all the functions of that very impor-
tant and laborious position, which, by the
growth of time and business, now occupies
-. al co1l fbn ar civ
judges.
), men once seated in the chair of justice
his peculiar qualifications for the Judicial
Office became so apparent that from that day
to this he has been elected and reelected by
lhe unanimous sutfrageS of his fellOw-citi-
Zens, sometimes with his acquiescence and
sometimes against his wishes and protest.
What can my voice or pen add to the grand
eur of such history?
Judge Wilkiu on next Monday will retire
from Inc bench of this district. He does so
at his own desire and with the profound re-
gret of all who know him. He will take
with him into his dignified retirement ana
privacy OF life. hot only the respect and graf
itude of all his fellow, citizens for his past
fidelity to duty but their love and affection,
not simulated or formal. bnt honest and
sincere.
That he may take new lease Of life, be-
come rejuvenated and enjoy the blessings he
has so we'll earned and so richly deserves,
man, woman and child in the common
wealth and nowhere is that sentiment more
deeply imbedded than in the heart of your
speaker.
If il NAV please you. move you that the
proceedings of this farewell meeting may be
entered in the records of this court to serve
as beacon light for the future.
Continuing, Judge Flandrau said:
''Now, if your honors please, those are
the sentiments of the bar. The people
and the heads of departments, desiring
to testify to their respect and esteem,
have had the resolutions adopted at the
recent Democratic and Republican con-
ventions engraved upon parchment and
framed. They desire that they be pre-
sented to his honor, Judge Wilkin, as
mementos."
Judge Flandrau then read the resolu
tions, which expressed regret at Judge
Wilkins determination to retire from
the bench and declininga denomination
to Office. Judge Flandrau concluded as
follows: ''Let the young members of
the bar hereafter cast their eyes on the
calm, serene face of Judge Wilkin (he
here pointed 20 life-siZed portrait sus-
pended over the Judges bench) and
strive to emulate his example and pre-
cepts."
l. V. u. Heard arose and seconded the
| motion OF Judge Flandrau that the eX-
pressions of respect by members of the
bar and citizens be recorded on the mill
utes of the court. He eulogized the
character of Judge Wilkin as a just
| judge, and compared him to the sacred
| Judge of the olden times.
Other eulogies were pronounced by
Judge j. w. Lusk. Gen. John B. San
! born, ". II. Sanhorn, H. F. Stevens,