New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-27

Runyon seemed TO be the most In an inter-
view published soon after he had received the
OF his honor. he was reported to nave
said with characteristic simplicity: II had hardly
expected such thing. But the President could
not have honored me with n foreign mission more
10 my taste have visited Germany several
times and Ike the people"
It was said by the friends Of Mr.. Runyon that
when ne retired from the Chancellorshp Of New
Jersey in 1887. he had made up his mind perma-
ncnty TO retire from politics and to devote the re-
malnder Of his III. a private citizen to practising
law In his native town. II is a well known fact
that he was quietly and assl1uOusly fulhlng this
selfmposed mission when the call came from
Washington for him to represent his country
abroad.
on October Is Of the same year the United States
Legation In Berlin b"carne the United States En-
hassy and Minister Runyon became Ambassador
Runyon Twelve days later he presented his Gre
dcntals OF the newly created dignity to tn Kaiser.
who then with friendly and appropriate words wei
coined him a. the first United States Ambassador
TO Germany Both spoke IN English. Mr.. Run
yon as follows. In his usual simple yet forceful
style
Since the audience given mo by Your. Majesty on
the occasion Of my appointment. as Minister III"
United states. Ia cordial rccprocation Of Ike
friendly action 10y your Goy"rument, has raised
its Legation ~ Berlin TO an Embassy ana maze M
it, Ambassador 1t is specially graufying to Ine
TO be assigred part IN ih's. mutual 'efnohsIrin ei
ton TO this significant evidenc" OF friendship on tn
American
their mission TO Germany, the Irssi1eht OF we we
United States has specially charged me- with the
Msj.siy the assurance or his best wishes for tho
prosperity OF GERMANY
Theodore Runyon without doubt one OF the
most cautious and modest iurlsts In New-Jersey
le seemed 20 be unconscious Of his great power as
II pleadrr and often ignored rich case when is
acc.pfance would interfere with one that he might
then Dee conducting with all Tia" power of absolute
faith IN his undertaking and marvellous simplicity
Of trust that the right would win even II II did not
put dollars In his pockets His Chancellor
~ N.w-J.rsey well Illustrates the almost naiv"
conscience. which he always brought 10 bear upon
any problem which contained an atom OF doubt for
an homes, man.
The system OF partisan politics introduced In New
Jersey with the Inauguration OF Governor Abbett IN
l,4 had FOR It's cardinal principles the appointment
OF none hut Democrats office. and the assessment
~ a holders TIE latter held TO be under
obligations also to choose Democratic subordinat"s
am, t0 use their positions for party advantage.
This system obtained the name OF "Abhettism.
It's fruits were shown IN the recent Senate inNrSt-
cation Thcod1re Rlnyon was Chancellor OF the
state having been appointed 30 that high Office by
Governor Joel Parker. In l>,3 The Cour: OF Chan
Gerry I'm the early sevcntirs was unpopular. 'han-
cello- Runyon rccreatcd II. and made IN" equity
feature OF the State Jurisprudence a palladium Oh
the peoples llbc,tlcs He invested the court with
sanclty which had been foreign to IT, and II j. due
To his fourteen year, OF brilliant services on the
bench and To- the rules and usages he established
tha, the Chancery Court Is what II is to-day The
Bar Of Ncw-Jerscy paid high tribute on many oc-
casions to the exalted character and talents OF
Chancellor Runyon. But this fact remains. he was
long popular with the rank and file OF the party.
What was the provocltion; Chancellor Kunyon
natly refused prostitute his court to poltc par
tisanship. He refused 10 bend 1t 70 the poNtcdi re-
sentiments OF Governor Abhett lie refused To com
promse the dignity Of the court by chipping In
., f,oTe lie. AZ all
self OF hls political opinions when he had Ju-
dlcial duty TO perform His decisions were always
dictated by the highest princ.pes Of law. and could
never be Influenced by personal or party consideIa
ton
Nj nunyon nad received the degree OF LII. D.
from no less than three wrl-known institutions
Yale Rutgers and Wesleyan. ills career ApIoii o
had not been marked by any particularly Brilliant
had never presented Itself IN a way % ca" toith
nortant enough FOR him 10 give honest expression
TO his ura-conservatiye theories OF sta,esiAiishlp
and diplomacy In Berlin society ne ne anu ;s P,t@s-
ing wife had occupied a more secure and graliy-
ing position thra dpIoatc imat oce They had Been
continually Invited TO houses max nave uSuaIly hot
and his Of however elevated position IN the poit-
cal or social wor OF their OWN sountry y, hrocv
sgmma,i;zed amsrsei Amassa'SSF County %ewJersey oc
,ohar a5 is2a lie came IIuguenot family
which was driven out of France by the reyocaiion
81 osns ns Has HEok Of and in hs ely e
ceived a preparatory education AT Iialnheld ana
NnsIv entered Yale College. from which he was
vrad,iated In 1872 He began the study OF law
In isia I'm the office OF Asa Whitehead. In Newark;
and in isi6 he was admitted TO the bar as an attor,
nov and three years later as counsellor In lSo5
ha' h' vas made city attorney and In ls56 city coun
sellor in Newark After serving eight years as
counse, he was elected Mayor OF Newark In 1864
for a term Of two years on the Democratlc ticket
In isFS Mr. Runyon was appointed Dy Governor
Price a Commissioners 70 revise ana ,codty the
Militia laws and In the following year he was APP
nnintsd brigader- general and soon afterward
ma ior. .reheral commanding the New-Jersey Ma,
fsfn hn
cientor and cast his vote for stephen a. Douglas
Tor President in the Electoral College; ,
yhen The civil War broke out IN 1901 MI. itunyon
,y,s nlaced in command of the New-Jersey brigade
way pa - In 1865 ne was defeated for Governor
nv Marcus L. Ward. Republican In April ls1S. he
~ ,,s cnmmasloned 10 revise the state constitution
and soon afterward was nominated by Governor
parLar for the office OF Chancellor, ana was con-
armed nv the Senate. He was reappointci, and
did not retire from the ChancellUrship uhtlI 1884,
,yhen he was succeeded by Chancellor Mctiill.
General Runyon leaves widow two sons and
,hree daughters The sons Frederick and Chauncey,
i've in Newark where they both ho.d Important po-
sitions The eldest daughter, Mrs, Henry G. Has
WINS and her sst rs, the Misses julia and Heen
were with their father at the time OF his death