New-York tribune., 1894-04-13

s,r,np great trials-to choose one as
BEN, =, judicial dignity. of serenity. OF unfail-
nv. .ourtesy in the most trying circumstances
NO .,ho bore unbroken sway over court into
'n ~. an element Of turbulence was often intro
Va one who easily repressed every demon
1.,on nv counsel or parties or witnesses or by
" -. oonpany OF spectators;-one of whose au-
|s.,,v - and control. whether personal or intel
-, there was never the least question:
LIN think should name Sir James Hannen
49, tnnression have Of Lord Hannen's eleya
49,, Of mind and Of demeanor as judge is
a.~.,gthened by the circumstances in which I
~, met him. 1t was at London dinner party.
wv wears ago. and had no notion who he was.
~ y. ,hat time he had. I think lately been ap-
",,,.sd President Of his Court. saw opposite
>. ,,s a fine face. clear-cut. with power Of ex-
ir.sssng at the same time great strength and
..,tect repose. The eyes were singuarly steady.
~ neither sought nor evaded anybody. The
,..a was we'll shaped and capacious; the lines
:. ,be temples those which patient thinking and
.rch study draw. Not perhaps handsome. he
-. q serenity and firm sweetness which did as
- When he spoke, 1t was very quietly but
..c word told. He spoke as one having
',,-v. and people listened. They do not always
s..n at the London dinner table. He made no
.s,rt 10 shine. The company included. perhaps,
,hsr more than due proportion of celebrities,
..,a OF whom were clearly actuated by a sense
:, suty 10 sustain. and even to emphasize, their
.rr claims to distinction. Yet when they had
,,,s their best. the attention of the critical
-,,ned fixed on this quiet man with the gray
Nine eyes and full forehead, from whose COM
,,.ssad firm yet mobile lips proceeded these easy
..,,snces Of which almost every one had the pre-
.,.,on Of a geometrical 2tatement. After n while
, found out that this was Sir James Hannen. l
,,., him from time to time afterward He was
,r.vs the same. He had taken his line and kept
=, signs were not wanting that beneath this
LIN, surface there were fiery currents Of passion
,.,hans even Of temper. They were not allowed
- conoe 10 the surface. II was this mastery over
,,rsef which gave him such mastery over
.,hsrs Never was that more plainly seen than
uh.r Sir Charles Russell came, as he so often
a, into collision with the President of the
social Commission Few judges resist the i'm
,.,uositv Of this great advocate. He is won't to
have his own way with courts,-wth the Bench
=. with the Jury In this instance. he had to
10 content with Sir James Hannen's way.
Iord Hannen's sh; re in the Behring Sea Arbi-
.-.ton at Paris concerns us more nearly than
the Parnen Commission. though We hardly
,ssred n think so at the time. The part he
n,aved there was less conspicuous perhaps not
sss decisive. He was against us. and he infiu-
srced the tribunal against us Perhaps it will
never be known how much he swayed his col
leagues Our American arbitrators could tell
vou II they would. He was for his own country
we can hardly quarrel with his memory for
,ha,--and he had a deep conviction that the
o-ncipNes OF law for which England contended
we're FOR the interest Of both countries and Of
all countries. He was strenuous against the
views Of law which our leading counsel, Mr..
pheIps urged upon the tribunal. Like every
hodv else he paid hearty tribute to the juridical
knowledge. to the sweep and strength Of argu-
ment TO the learning and the extraordinary
forensic power with which Mr.. Phelps presented
his case. But he was determined that the arbi-
traitors should not adopt these views. He la
bored with his colleagues. Mr.. Phelps think
knew who his chief antagonist was. and how
resolute he was. The two opponents respected
each other. Lord Hannen was inside and Mr..
Phelps was outside, and Lord Hannen won.
Take out the American arbitrators. especially
Mr Justice Harlan. and the English especially
Lord Hannen-the Behring Sea Arbitration
would not remain a strong body. 1t had
harning. integrity. diplomacy. and other good
Iings but ii was very much at the mercy OF
xe or three Of its members. Lord Hannen $
srces were not very generously recognized on
Mwturn. and the lack Of public or ofhciai rec
oaadon is the more to be regretted. since they
sento have cost him his life. Paris that sum
nryas rAeking with influenza and typhoid. lie
uH.r shook off the illness he contracted. came
kne TO resign the Lordship Of Appeal TO which
be had been appointed on retiring from 'he III
vrce Court. and his career was over 1l'
iudgments. said his able successor Slr fIa"cH
!eune have been landmarks in the law Nc
greater fudge during the last two generations
said the Lord Chief Justice Both were speak
Ing from the Bench, and these judicial eulogie'
from his colleagues are certainly those "n'c'
Lord Hannen himself would have valued most
c. W. S.