The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1899-12-02
.LUCRE FOR LAN|Y ER6

=
international Law association live in
that city. But New York is headquarters
for more eminent American members Of
the profession than any other city, though
it was apparent at the thirteenth annual
meeting of the. association held last sum-
mer in Buffalo. that many American
cities and towns have lawyers who con-
slider themselves high UP in international
law practice.
frederic r.. Coudert Of this city is one
of the most prominent American interna-
7tionaL Possibly rlfissapractire -isrI
larger than Mr.. Foster's-it has been
longer, anyway. Mr.. Coudert,s ancestry.
his youthful Surroundings and his school
training were as different from those Of
Mr.. Foster as could be imagined, and of
the sort that apparently would fit a man
re-eminently for international practice.
Though New. York born. Mr. coudert is
of French descent. His father, Charles
Coudert, was implicated In the plot to
seattle Duke Of Reichstadt on the throne
of France early in the twenties, and be-
cause of that circumstance was obliged to
flee to this country in 1924 Frederic was
born eight years later. At fourteen the
boy entered the. arts department. of Co.
lumbia college and at eighteen was grad
uated "at the head of his class This is
not euphemistic phrase in Couderts
case; he really won all the scholastic hon
ors it was possible at that time for one
student TO secure. +
His graduation at the early age Of
eighteen made it possible for him to finish
his law course a full year before he was
of age and, therefore, unable to secure
admittance to the bar But he began
active practice in 1853, Immediately after
his twenty-frst birthday, and in sur
| prisingly short time had become special
counsel for etbe French government. At
first he was retained mainly in extradi-
| ton cases, but his success in these soon
led to his being employed in more impor-
tant matters on behalf of the country
from which his father had fled. Still
later he was employed by the italian gov
eminent also, both in extradition and
other. cases, and it was not many years
| before his practice on behalf of foreign
| powers included nearly every government
Of Europe. Since then decorations have
been conferred upon him by the govern
ments of Italy and France, but he is
American to the core for all that, and has
served American interests in the practice
of his profession as often as the inter-
ests of foreigners. In no case has he APP
peared in behalf of a foreign power
against our own government In 1877 he
represented American commerce at the
sessions of the international commercial
congress at Antwerp, and again in 1882 at
a second gathering of that body. He rep
resented the. United States government in
the controversy with Great Britain over
the seals in Paris and has been retained
for our side on several other important
occasions.
Although the chosen profession of An
drew D. White, formerly president of
Cornell university and present ambassa-
dor to Germany, is that Of educator, and
not lawyer he may be spoken Of as an
authority of the highest repute on interna-
tional law, and more than once when the
question was not diplomatic he has pre-
sented the view of another government to
the authorities of our own. Mr.. White
was born in the little country town of
Homer, in the interior of his state. His
foreign experience began soon after his
! graduation from Yale, when he was made
an attache of the American legation at ST.
Petersburg. but his first real training in
international law did not come till 1871,
| five years after he took his seat as presi.
dent OF Cornell Then President Grant
sent him to Santo Domingo as a member
of the commission to inquire into the ad-
visibility of annexing that island to the
United States. In 1878 White was sent
to Paris on a mission connected with the
| exposition there: Since then he has served
as United States minister to Russia, and
his present term as chief: diplomatic. rep
| resentative Of this government to Berlin
Is his second. There is no doubt that big
fees a-plentys would seek him out were
he to; be willing to enter upon a career
In International law upon the expiration
of his present arnbassadorial term.
Although the distinction Of having the
largest practice In International law is
! awarded to John W. Foster among
Americans the first place among living
American authorities thereon is awarded
| by many to E. j. Phelps, minister to
England in Cleveland's first term, and
| for years law professor at Yale His
grasp of International law principles is
exceedingly comprehensive, his knowledge
| of technical points and presidents ISL
l. Iro<nv
OF reasoning are thoroughly judicial
For these reasons 1t is said that he might
have a larger international law practice
than anyf-of his ,c0untrymen NJ only he
would accept it. Perhaps the most i'm
lportant retainer ever refused by Mr.
Great Britain when its government and
| that of Portugal. were at odds. Mr..
! Phelps career has been less eyentful
than that of any member Of the profes.
sion mentioned in this article, saying pos
sibly Mr.. Coudert. Phelps began prac-
fessors place at Yale in 1881 In the
hfties he was United states controller of
the treasury. He had no foreign ex-
pertence until after he was. &c. wher,
President Cleveland sent him to the
/ court of st. James. Like some others
among our diplomatic Representatives in.
England, Mr.. Phelps has some rhyming
abilities, as is shown by his long forgot-
ten but somewhat profane triolet on
Essex Junction. the refrain Of which
| runs: rs
And hope in hell Sfss. 4
l '5s. His soul may dwell g=ts5 !
Who first invented Essex Junction.
1t was understood that the late Thoma )
F. Bayard purposed building up prac-i
ice In international law after the expira-5
ton Of his term as ambassador to Great
Britain, and, in fact, he had made some
| Roadway when death called him away.
Perhaps Joseph III. Choate will have an
i opportunity to accept the fat retainers.
offered In International law practice when
i he ceases to be an ambassador He is NOT
unknown in the practice OF that branch
i of his profession now. James c. Carte,
/ of this city might have a remunerative
interna tional law practice il he would
accept it. and undoubtedly the same Is.
true of w. r. Day. former secretary OF
4 state Mr.. Carter is well versed in the
/ principles of international law, and has
defined more felicitously than any one else
the difference between it and ordinary
i practice. ~. .s
4 The growing Importance of internationa,
law practice is recognized fully by all the
i big law schools in the maintenance OF a.
Eprofessorship in that branch Professor