Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-01-04

be estimated in accordance with that
principle, and so estimating it his
service has been invaluable The poIit-
ical world, oftentimes with turbulent
demonstration, and even umseemly
tiattery. bestOWS its hOnorS upon its
living idols and heroes. Why should
not those whose lives have been labo-
riOusly spent in the retiracy of judicial
vocation. faShiOning and building the
Jurisprudence of 4 commonwealth. lie
ALSO kindly remembered. and their
achievements suitably recognized,
while they are still with us and may
yet enjoy the pleasure of happy retro
Spect and the realization of public
2ratitude?'
At some length Judge Dyer dwelt on
the purity and integrity of the bench,
and compared it in this respect with
the English bench in its early history
England boosted of one honest Judge
Matthew Hare-while our country is
happy in the possession of many such
administrators Of Justice
And now, when the bells are pealing
afar and near said the judge il his
closing remarks. reminding us that the
old year is going and the new year is
coming, when the feStal cheer of the
season awaken with renewed activity
the spirit of genial fellowship, we may
suitably extend to the friend whose
portrait i, left in the kindly keeping
of the court our wishes that he may
long continue to enjoy in unabated
health and yigor the felicity of happy
reflections upon duty nobly performed"
Chief Justice Lyon responded as fol-
lows:
Judge Dyer; My brethren have
placed me under Il great obligation by
awarding me the privilege of express
ing to you our united thanks for your
generous donation of the portrait of
Judge OrsamuS Cole, late the chief
justice of this court 1t has been
placed and will remain with the Dor.
traits which adorn these walls Of
several former justices of the court
with whom he served. The artist has
happily succeeded in catching and
perpetuating upon the canvas the
and feature which beamed upon more
than a generation of lawyers who
practiced in this court while he was
one of its mepabers-an expression
which never darkened, and which al
ways inspires respect and affection.
My brethren also especially desire
that you be assured of our united ap-
| ~G L
eloquent remarks, on this occasion, lis
which, in fitting termS,; you have reIl-
dered just tribute to the fidelity and
usefulness, during his long, judicial
career, as we'll as to the great ability
of our friend and former official as
sociate. And. better than all else,
what you have said Of the loneliness
OF his character finds Il cordial Tt.
Spouse in each. of our hearts.
Judge Cole is the last of the elected
chief justices Of this court This, por-
trait will occupy the panel re
served for it with the portraits Of
the other chief, justices by
elecst0n-W Wilton, Dixon and RX;@a.--
together with. that If Chief Justice
All. these were able iuristS and We're
PROMINENT and useful in laying the
foundations of our jurisprudence IN
broad and enduring principles THE
fame of some of them is national 1t
is no disp3ragement to the memory
of the others to say that in symmetry
Of character, in untiring, we'll directed
I in uS tysy stJ OF md ny of
judgment, in love of Justice, in obedi-
ence to the law, in unSw CRYING fidelity
to duty Chief Justice Cole is the peer
of any of them. We pay honor to the
memory of either Of those great chief
| justices when we say of him that he
was ths peer Of Chief Justice Cole.
For m@Ee than thirty-sin years he was
an hon0red member of this court, and
during that time took part in the adj
| judication Of thousands of causes.
Many of them involved questions, of
vast important to the State-sOme We're
I of national concern-and all Of them
affected rights of person, reputation OF
property Their determination requir-
{ ed careful study and wise diScrimina-
! ton, so that the law should be correct
! ly stated and applied. In, the dis
charge Of these high duties Judge Cole
| patiently listened to argument, and
! the views of his brethren, carefully
weighed the same ana investigated for
| himself, and when, convinced, gave
! Judgment, and gave it in obedience to
the law, and in the fear Of God He
feared none else. Such a man can
never be moved by applause or censure,
no matter from whence it comes.
During the last few Years Of
Judge Coles service here, the business
of the court was, conducted almost en-
| tirely by lawyers who were admitted
to, practice in this state after he be-
came one Of its, members. It is, a great
satisfaction to- know that in what we
are saying Oh this occasion, we voice
the unanimous sentiment CT all who
ever practiced before him, as well as
of all the people of our state who have
had opportunity to know his services
and worth.
The record of Judge Coles judicial
life, and the evidences Of his great
ability, are contained in seveDty-eight
volumes of the Wisconsin reports
from volume to volume 81 inclusive
in which are reported the opinions and
| judgments of the court in about 5000
causes. Besides those in which he
wrote the opinions, nearly all the others
passed the scrutiny of his conscien-