New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-14

JOSEPH II. CHoATE.
duced 10 any audience 500 miles from the City Hall.
And yet no one denies that he is Mr.. Depews equal
In point of mental ability, in effectiveness OF speech,
gracousness of readiness OF wit spontancity
| OF humor rapidly and range OF ideas luclditJ OF
statement and mastery OF human emotion.
1t is hardly just however TO attribute the limita-
tions OF his fame TO the overshadowing influence OF
his COUSIN There are other causes. His partner
ship with william NJ. Evarts is one People found
It almost as difficult TO believe that two leaders Of
the bar could be united in firm that father and
son or uncle and nephew might be equally renowned
So long Mr.. Evarts's powerful personality remained
I'm public view long did its shadow rest upon his
associate. obsc,lring him unintentonaly. of
from the gaze of the multitude. But more potent
than either Of these In preventing him from
becoming a more conspicuous figure In the national
eve Is Mr.. Choates own disposition. genuine New
Highlander, democratic in his faith and practice,
liberal IN his views. broad IN his sympathics. and
full OF sense he Is nevertheless as retiring
as conservative. and in the best sense as arstocratc
as was Lowell himself. whom. by the way he rsem
bles in many traits OF character SO while In the
Judgment OF many he is without peer before jury,
while he the enthusiasm OF any assembly
before which ne appears in Cooper Union or else
where, while his uterances on any subjects command
attention respect applause. he Is not an IDOL OF
the people. Only a few intimate friends think OF
calling him 4" Joe Choae the people never use his
name Familiarity. To them he Is the embodiment OF
dignity and reserve relieved by charming urbanty.
They admire his briliancy, his inimtabe. unfailing
humor his marvellous persuasive powers, his courage
and chvarous bearing, but still they feel That he
holds himself aloof from them. that he is far re-
moved from their domain of every day life, and hence
they are content to see him as Pindar says he saw
Archlochus-at distance.
HE SEEKS NO OFFICE.
II further cause should be sought for this apparent
lack OF appreciation on the part OF the masses OF
Mr. Choate IT may be found In his aversion TO public
life. He has appeared as a candidate lor an
elective Office and has never sought appointment at
the halds Of the Federal, State or CITY Governments.
81 suppose my friends knew did not want public
Office. he once remarked, and that Is why they
never nominated me-" lie has been content with the
honors that from his remarkable professional
success his occasional appearance at important puohc
dinners In exciting campaigns and In CRITICAL Stages
OF our municipal affairs: in his prominence In the
Union League Club, OF which he has been president
and his intimate connection with his beloved New
England Society," OF which he is one OF the most
devoted members. This IS the natural trend OF his
life not because he is lacking in public spirit, not
because he Is Indifferent. 10 the Of good govern
ment or the needs Of the people but simply because
nc Is absorbed In his professional abors and feels
that his services are no. required In party manage
ment or public affairs But when the need Of his
aid IS apparent, when public task worthy OF ms
powers demands attention. he is as quick TO RESPOND
as any citizen of the metropolis When there Is
street Cleaning Commissioner TO be arraighco'
member Of the bar TO be saved from being sent to
ail because Of his reckless devotion 10 his clients
interests when arrogant element of the population
is TO be good ngurcdly reminded of 'rts faults
theft OF a State Legislature TO be exposed, or Iweed
Ring to be overthrow, Joseph II. Choatc Is among
the first TO answer the call Of duty.
HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN GOVERNOR.
one of his friends remarked The other evening that
Mr. Choatc might have been Mayor Of this city or
Governor or state long ago If lie had displayed
half much tact and discretion In political matters
as he does in the court ROOM
"Jus look at it,, continued this friend, here Is
cty controlled 10y the Irish. They have ruled II for
wears and 1t looks II they might continue TO do
so for years to come. ! say the Irish for Tammany
Hall IS simply another name for them; other element
amounts TO anything in the wigwam. Their influence
Is alI-powcrfu; they dominate everything. Not a
single city department is outsid: their jurisdiction.
All the rolls and the patronage are In their keep
ing. Even tie judiciary, with few notable eXccp-
lions, Is subservicnt TO their wishes The Courts
tremble at their nod And yet Ch0ate does not
hesitate 10 set them by the by making speech
while a guest at the st. Patrcks dinner that made
his hearers hot in the neck and ready pound the
man who had the tcmerity to have little fun at
fheir expense. or course all enjoyed 1t, and all
sensible people, Irish well as American Endorsed
L.
This illustrates what say, that Brother Choate Is not
a good politician"
Possibly as the term politician Is ordinarily under
stood but Is precisely IFS quality In Mr. Choatc
this readiness TO say what he really thinks. this free
dom from cowardice. this dctcstation OF trucking
10 ignorance and brutality in authority this absolute
independence that makes sober minded. patriotic
citizens look up him with much respect and con
fdcDce And this element Of his character Is no
new development; II has always been one OF his
striking characteristics. lie talked unreservcdly II
is truc TO the Sons Of st. Patrick the other evening
but his satrica; illusions were not bit more strong
than those he INDUCED IN twenty-five years ago when
he had lust begun his here. In a speech be-
fore the New England Society at Delmonicos In 1885,
with Recorder laferward Govcrn0r) Hoffman, General
Hancock Admiral Farragut. Theodore Ton the Rev.
DR. Bellows and Senator Lane among the invited
guests lie welcomed the representative Of the ST.
Patrich,s Society with these playful remarks: And
now let me pay the last and best respects 10 the
representative OF ST. Patrica. who In the Disguise Of
Il hearty sympath!zcr comes among u.s. nevertheless
NJ our master and despot; and yet / regard M
presence Of this genial stranger tonight an augury
OF uncommon hope, because OF the assurance that IL
Owes us that In this great Irish city, the seat OF e.
pntricks power, where he sits enthroned in majesty