New-York tribune., 1900-03-10
MR.. PHELPS'S CAREER.

MR.. PHELPS'S CAREER.
Edward ]. Phelps was born IN Middlebury. Vt. on
July II. 1922. His father, Samuel s. Phelps was a
graduate OF Yale. a paymaster in the Navy during
the War OF 1872 notable lawyer. Justice OF the
Supreme Court OF Vermont for a number OF years
prior TO 1898 United States Senator from 1893 1851
and again in 1853 and 1854 by appointment to I'll a
vacancy. and altogether a conspicuous and honored
figure in the public affairs OF his time The son.
Edward John Phelps. graduated from Middle
bury College In 1870 He studied with Horatio
seymou" at Utica, n. Y. and then for year at
the Yale Law School. H admitted the bar
OF Vermont IN 1s43, and began the practice Of the
law in his native county
After two years spent at Mddlebury he removed !
to Burlington and opened office there. on Sep I
ember 80. 1851, he became Second Controller OF the
Treasury, and retained that office until the close
Of President Fillmore's Administration. Desiring a
larger field, Mr.. Phelps removed to New-York In 1857
and formed partnership with Abraham Wakeman. /
but he remained here only a year or two return |
ing then to Burlington. which continued 10 be his /
home and the centre OF his activities for twenty /
FIVE years.
In 1881 he elected Kent professor OF law In /
Yale College. which at the same line conferred !
upon him the degree Of a NJ. his Alma Mater hav-
ing already made him an IL. d In 1882 he !
lectured before the law students OF Boston Uni /
versity on constitutional law. on March o. /.
1885,. President Cleveland nominated him TO the post
OF Minister to England. and he shortly after
confirmed by the Senate. Mr.. Phelps did not
abandon his professorship OF law IN Yale upon |
leaving the country but expected and desired /
to take up its duties again when he retired from !
public life.
NO CHANCE IN POLITICS.
Living all his life in the sodIy Republican State |
OF Vermont, Mr. Phelps never had chance TO gain /
wide fame a politician or statesman He had /
been Democrat from boyhood ann OF course !
could not expect State honors either by appoint !
ment election. Federal ONCE under Repub- |
rcan Administration at Washington. In 1880 when |
1t was thought desirable to poll the full Democratic
vote OF Vermont for General Hancock. MIR Phelps |
consented to accept the Democratic nomination for
Governor OF the State, expecting perhaps that his /
readiness TO undergo certain defeat in Presidential
year would be appreciated in General Hancock
was elected. The campaign made rather inter
estng at one point by the publication In The Rut
land Herald" OF speech which MI Phelps de-
hvered before Democratic conference In lS6i-a
speech containing bitter denuncation Of Abraham
Lincoln and Of the Abotonists.
Belonging to a notable family. transactlng Il large /
legal business. and living generously Burlington /
for many years, Mr.. Phelps's familiar o /
the people OF Vermont, but beyond the borders OF /
that State he had general reputation outside the
courts, and great was the surprise. therefore when
II was announced that the President had bestowed |
is scarcely too much to say that the news Of the
sappointme.nt . was greeted with the almost universal
ever; who We're familiar with his personal and |
country would be REPRESENTED in England by man
OF OF learning cultivation and agreeable manners and |
his lectures at Yale and his occasional addresses at
sPcuous favor and from vermont came proofs Of
ass in most Of he a M @
that State for many years. including the famous
sented the Interests of his old friend and nelghbor.
bTeao[ L. park lie had been president Of the
mont Constitutional Convention IN 1871. and he had
make bs name ama ro to IN m ss cn OF nature to
there was Renera approva s Of b r.
i, MS naive State ma a quiet acquiescence in its
Democrat was of the opinion that he could have
pontment would have done more to strengthen the
party organization In weak places than the selec
Republican State of Vernon INC ''pe'eSS'S
AS MINISTER TO ENGLAND
Mr. Phelps made for himself congenial place In
official and social life of England; or rather he
succeeded TO the place which il was, perhaps gen
orally supposed that the retirement of Mr. Lowell
would leave permanently vacant His tact
urbanity and easy eloquence appreciated at
their full value He had a better opportunity TO
make a distinguished reputation a diplomatist
than many of his predecessors. but IT be
said that the principal International transactions
III Whch ne f was eXlradltlon treaty,
ments for Secretary Bayards Fisheries Commits
On his retirement from office he devoted himself
a possible president of Columbia College to fiji
Barnard In 1855 he contributed a series Of arti.
cies on The Constitution of the United States to
When the BehrIng Sea controversy became the
the. the b-anE cause as o presented & by Mr. Blaine
criticism from former admirers who could
give any good word for the foreign policy of a
Republican Administration. He stood boldly by
his opinions, however. and when the case be-
fore the Tribunal of Arbitration was invited to be-
come of the counsel for the United States his
colleagues being two other eminent Democrats !
Frederic r. Coudert and James {. Carter. Mr. !
Phelps made the closing presentation of the case
for the United States, and soon after returned To
this country.
Mr.. Phelps married, while young man, Miss
Mary Haight. Two children survive him-Mrs
Horatio Loomis of Burlington, and Charles Phelps
a graduate of Yale in the class of 3d. Another
son, who had early gained distinction civil
engineer, died in 1884 The Vermont homestead Is
a commod GUS and attractive place in the heart
the city OF Burlington which has often been filled
with guests and always generously maintained
one OF Mr.. Phelpss neghbors was Senator Ed
munds with whom, until the latter took up his
residence in Washington and Mr.. Phelps went TO
New Haven professor. he was associated in
much professional business and constantly enjoyed
friendly and social intercourse.
FRANK B. DEMONT.
Somervie N j. March 9.-Frank B. Demont
dad ut his home in this place last night of |