New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-15
will have no effect. What's the good OF max
ing juries if they can't BE- Of some use TO you:
JUSTICE FIELDS RETIREMENT.

The resignation Of Stephen J. Field rs an AS
sociate Justice Of the United States Supreme
Court brings to n dlgnifed and graceful end the
longest and one of the most notable terms OF
service in the history of the Federal bench. AS
s,,ming place on this august tribunal amid the
stress and urmoiIs of the War Of the Rebellion
his continuance in the judicial harness Tor more
than third Of century has long been the
single link which bound the court OF modern
DAYS with that OF the memorable era ushered
in by I.ncoln's first election to the Presidency.
Taking the oath of Office under the Chief JUS
ticeship of fancy, and serving the early years
Of his ncumbency with colleagues VINO h'u
even sat with Marshall. Justice Field has lived
to see The work of the great appellate tr'Duhai
carried on through varied and startling mutt
tons of membership TO the very verge OF the
twentieth century. Three new Chef JUSTICES
have been installed in Office since he ascehned
the bench and no less than nineteen colleagues
have closed their terms by death during the
same period. or the other four Justices chosen
by President Iincon-Chasc and Swaync. OF
Ohio: Miller. Of Iowa. and David Davis, OF III
nos-only one. Miller had prolonged his term
beyond the second administration Of Grant, ana
since the death Of Miller. during the Admnsfra-
tlon of HARRISON Justice Field has been left the
sole survivor of that group of brilliant jurSts
through whose successive appointments Lincoln
infused new lfc breadth and vlgor into mar
rowing and hardening Federal bench. ana Of
whose attainmcnts Mr.. Blaine has justly said.
in his Twenty Years Of Congress- that never
before had the ma ory membership of the SUI
prcme Court. which they constituted. been SUI
'peror in all the qualities which adorn the judi
'cial character"
No era in American history has been more
crowded with problems Of vital public interest
than that which dates from Justice Fields first
entry into the Supreme Court chamber, over
thirtv-four years ago. In the adjudication OF
all the constitutional questions which have
arisen OUT of war and reconstruction legislation.
and through the siill-coninuing effort to define
and interpret the new impress given To the Fed
eral Government by the struggle OF lsGl-'65 for
the assertion Of National unity and sovereignty.
Justice Field has been II potent and continuous
influence: and his attitude on all these questions
has been marked by consistency and modcra-
ton which have left an ncffaccable mark on
Federal law. This is not the time or place 10
estimate in any technical or critical way the
services which the venerable Justice now about
10 dofr the crmnc has rendered to American
Jurisprudence. But surely any candid summary
Of Justice Fields career will echo the Judgment
Of President Mckinley. that the high character
and great ability of his work will live and long
be remembered by a grateful country
Profoundly American by instinct and train
ing broad and simple in his tastes and of a
genial and sympathetic personality. Justice
Field has been for thirty years an engaging and
attractive figure IN the private ~ well as the
public life Of Tho Nations Capital Full Of years
and honors. may he long enjoy the ease and
privacy which his long devotion TO public duty
has go amply earned.