The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-03-08
TRIBUTE TO- GREAT JURIST
An Am bIticus Boys Rise from a Peddler of
Charcoal TO a Member of the Highest
Court in the Land-A Modest Man.


Chief-justice Fuller responded. Addresses
were also made by members of the bar. In
presenting the resolutions Mr.. Miller said:
MAY it please the court-0n the 9th day
of February last the bar of this court adopt
ed q memorial which i now have the honor
TO present:
Resolved, That the members OF the bar OF the
SUPREME Court OF the United States desire TO
record their sense OF the loss that has come to
the profession and to the Nation in the death OF
Joseph p Bradley, Justice OF this court He
brought to the bench long experience, great
scholarship as wide and varied rs it was thor
oueh and exact, and an unyielding courage. he
was. at the same time. one OF those rare char
acters In which vast learning Is united with In
tense activity and business capacity: "a master or
men as well as of books. practical as well as
theoretical. During his long service here he has
more than done every duty, growing constantly
in his work and in the regard OF his fellows and
OF the Nation until, In the fullness or age,
GoRded ana sosensa by 81 or
the people, he has passed away lament
ed by the bar. the bench and the country
that he served; life complete. with large
place in history among the creators and molders
OF our national Jurisprudence.
Resolved. That II copy of these resolutions be
presented by the president and secretary OF this
meeting to the family of Mr.. Justice Bradley.
with the sincere sympathy OF the profession In
their bereavement. and that the Attorney gen.
eral be requested 10 present 10 the supreme
Court In session the proceedings OF this meet
ing.
These occasions are recurring with pain
full frequency. In each of the years 1887,
1888. 1889, 1890. and now again at the
threshold of 1892, an honored member or
this court has been summoned into that
presence of inconceivable solemnity. where
all must appear at last To answer for duty
done or duty neglected. Well may the bar
and the court say they are becoming re-
luctant to grant these their last. highest
honors.' Yet. neither in length OF DAYS nor
in their results, Is the end OF the life OF
Justice Bradley nntimeiy. Having passed
and by reason OF strength attained
almost to four scorc years. all
the journey rich and useful in the
fruits Of his talents. his industry and his
learning. like the mildness. the serenity,
the continuing benignity of the summers
day. he has gone down with slow descend
ing. grateful, long lingering light the
radiance of the evening giving sure promise
of a morning and Q morrow of endless
brightness.
HIS EARLY STRUGGLES.
1.-THE oldest of eleven children OF Puritan
New England lineage. Joseph p. Bradley.
was born on farm In Albany county, New
York. on the 14th day of March. 1918. and
was. therefore. on Jan. % last. the day OF
his death. near the end of his seventy
ninth year. The means of his parents. who
at his birth were only nineteen years old,
were slender, and the circumstances of his
childhood and youth were very hard. The
little farm was ruggeu, almost mountain
Gus. the soil thin and barren. The meager
crops were eked out by cutJing wood from
the hill-sides ana burning IL into charcoal,
which young Bradley peddled about tho
streets OF Albany. But, though sore pressed
to supply the needs OF their fast growing
flock. this father and mother were of the
intelligent farmer class, so often ambitious
fO or VI hair In iron hat tar har fhut.
their own. and they did for their boy the
best they could. few months country
school in winter. and q few books were the
foundation on which q great 81 perstructure
of learning was built-a foundation which,
with Gil due respect TO so-called i'm
proved school systems and modern
methods, il is believed, was all the better
for the am bItious boy, because tho Oppor-
tunities were rare, and the few books so
entirely mastered. In the intervals of
necessary work. we can imagine this boy
in garments hOmespun ami homemade.
every thread and every stitch inwoyen
with the warmth of q mothers love, slight
of form. but full of life and energy. quick
of motion and quick of temper. eager and
apt In all the sports with his fellows. but
even more eager and more apt In the use of
his slight opportunities, by book or school.
10 feed the beginnings OF that hunger of
the mind which was the spur of his whole
life. and which, to she last, WAS Unsuitable.
''At sixteen this boy. with so few ad-
vantagee. instead of u pupil. became the
teacher of n winter school, an occupation
continued for four seasons. This was the
best possible training. because 1t necossi-
tated thorOughness. AS pupil one may
get along with superficial knowledge. Be
lore one can instruct. no must not merely
know, but he must know how. and why,
and for what purpose; he mnst know. not
merely facts, but principles AT twenty.
entering the freshmen class ut Rutgers.
with a very meager preparation in Gre~k
t.Qf a Ia AZ n hnd
nevertheless. made such progress 10
jump the sophomore and enter the junior
class; and was graduated two years
later with the late Secretary freling.
huysen, Governor Newell and CORTLAND
Parker, all eminent in the law and In
public affairs. Mr.. Parker says that Brad
ley was faci!e princeps in his class. though
compelled to miss the last term OF his
course in order. by teaching, TO earn money
to pay his way.
FIRST YEARS AT THE BAR.
"Of many incidents of his student life.
suggestive OF his future character and
achievements. time forbds to speak. They
all prophesied a man of integrity. of indus
try and of notable talents. Young Bradley
does not seem to have been strik ingIy pre-
cociOus-was not genius like Grotns or
Hamilton, striding at once To the front OF
Ia Is profession. HIS trst years at the bar,
as with most Young men. were a struggle;
his success and greatness were n growth.
the result OF days OF toll and nights of
study. The unfolding of the law TO him
is admirably described in his own Ian
guage:
"As in the creation, we may suppose that tho
Light OF the stars did not IA burst upon inan at
single moment. but came upon him from their
distant chambers In successive beams. one after
another, according To their reconcile stations In
space. SO. in the study Of the Law, great
principle after another comes 10 the yearning
mind and Overspreads IL with light and glad
ness, and many long years may eIapse before
one can feel that he has really mastered
the law, and fully obtained the gladstone
light of Jurisprudence spoken OF by Lork Coke.
'As student and as a man. amost strik-
ing trait of his character was thoroughness
He studied almost everything. and
whatever he studied became his
Own-a part of his very self
from delivered by him before the students
of the law school of the University of
PeDDsyivsnia In 1SS4-an address worthy
the pen or Observation-Disclosures bradley
pictured the ideal lawyer. as follows:
$40 sum up all in one word. In order 10 be an
accomplished lawyer, IL Is necessary, besides
having a knowledge OF the law to De All ac-
coiDplikhed iDan graced with at least general
EnowIedze OF history. OF science. OF philosophy,
OF the useful artr, or the modes or business, OF
everything. in fact, that concerns the weii-beng
ana intercourse or men In society. He ought TO
be a man or large understandings; he must be a
man OF large requirements. ana rich In general
information; FOR he Is a priest OF the law, which
Ia the bond and support OF civil society, aud
which extends TO and regulates every relation
or one man To another I'm that society, and every
transaction that takes place in it, Trained ia
such n profession, and having these acquire
nicnts, and Two things more, (which can never
De o;llttcd from the category or quaiihcatlonsl