The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-05

completed and in PHILADELPHIA on July
s. 1885, John Marshall entered into rest.
II is impossible to describe the impress
sion which his death produced 1t was
not that feeling which the death of a
public man in an ordinary sense of the
word produces, which stirred the hearts
of the people-"it was better. a purer,
and more tranquil sentiments mingled
feeling of gratitude for the past and of
security for the future.
The bar of Richmond has left an endur-
ing record of their appreciation of him.
and of their veneration for him. which
seems to me the best portrait of perfest
judge ever drawn. They declared that
he was never absent from the bench in
term time even for day; that he dis
played such indulgence to counsel and
suitors that everybody's convenience was
consulted but his own; that he possessed
dignity sustained without effort, and ap-
parently without care to sustain it, to
which all men were solicitous to pay due
respect: that he showed such equanimlty.
such dignity of temper, such amenity of
manners that no member of the bar, 10
officer of the court, no juror no witness.
no sutton. in any single instance, ever
found or imagined, in anything said, or
done or omitted by him, the slightest
cause of offence" They added that his
private life was worthy of the exalted
character he sustained in public station.
and that the spotlsss purity of his NOR
ais. his social. gentle. cheerful DISPOSE
ton. his habitUal self denial and his
boundless generosity toward others. caus-
ed him to be, highly as he was respected
yet more beloved"
AN IDEAL CAREER
He had indeed completed the circle of
a good mans duty as husband and father
as citizen and soldier, as statesman and
jurist; and he has left to all the coming
generations of his countrymen an inspir-
ing example of a happy union of wisdom
and virtue and patriotism. Two genera
tions of American citizens have come and
gone since the nation stood by his open
grave. and if we have not profited as we
ought to have done by the lessons of his
life we have not wholly failed to realize
the lofty ideals he cherished for u.s.
But while our hearts are full of graft
tude for unexampled material blessings,
let us. on this day of all days. when the
memories of the fathers cluster so closely
about us, acknowledge as they always ac-
knowledged that nations cannot live by
bread alone. 1t was because of such con-
victon that they cherished and we have
heretofore cherished. the Christian ideal
of true national greatness: and our fideli-
ty to that ideal. however imperfect 1t has
been, entitled us in some measure to the
divine blessing. for having offered an ex-
ample to the world for more than an en-
tire generation of how nation could mar
yelously increase in wealth and strength
and all material prosperity while living in
peace with all mankind And although
many good and thoughtful people are just
now greatly troubled at what seems to
them an evil promise of the future. as
American lawyers we must never for a
moment, in dark days or in bright, de-
spair of the Republic.
Differences of opinion may well exist as
to the best methods of dscharging the
grave and serious duties unexpectedly E:e-
volved upon us by war begun with the |
noble object of helping a struggling people |
to secure their independence but let us /
trust that, however we may differ as to !
we all believe that the true /
glory of America and her true mission in !
the new century. as in the old. is what a /
great prelate of the Catholic Church has I
recently declared it TO be- To stand fast /
by Christ and his gospel; to cultivate not
the Moslem virtues of war of slaughter, |
Of rapine and of conquest but the Chris
tiOnal virtues of self-denial and kindness
and brotheriy love. and that it is our mis-
sion not to harm but to help to a better
life every fellow-creature of whatever col
or and however weak or lowly; and then
we may some day hear the benediction:
' Inasmuch as We did 1t to one of the least /
Of these my brethren ye did it unto me-
TIE LESSONS OF TINE
The passing years bring with them great
and among them is a Sc
renity of judgment which enables us to
recognize as literal practical truth that.
however We may strive to persuade our
selves to the contrary, no nation ever has
gathered or ever will gather grapes OF
thorns or fgs from tbistles; ami, as the
seEse Of separation of the world in which
we are from the world whittier we are GO
ing lessons day by day, We come at last
TO believe with faith which never can be
shaken that the true mission of nations as
OF men is to promote Righteousness on
earth; that comforting liberty is wiser than
making gain: that new friends are better
for us than new markets; that love is
more elevating than hatred; that peace is
nobler than war: that the humblest human
life is sacred: that the humbest human |
right should be respected and Ii is only
by recognizing these truths, which can
never fail to be true. that our own be-
owed country can worthily discharge the
sacred missisn cOnfided to her and main
.ain her true dignity and grandeur. set
ing her feet upon the shining pathway
which leads to the sunlit SUBMITS of the
lliye mountains and taking abundant care
hat every human creature beneath her
starry flag. OF every color and condition,
S as secure of liberty Of Justice, and Of
1eace as In the Republic Ct God
In cherishing these aspirations and in
striving to realize them, We are wholly in
he spirit Of the great Chief Justice; and
ne can in no other way so effectually hon
IT his memory as by laboring In season and
INT Of season to make this whole continent
II America "one vast and splendid monu-
nent not of oppression and terror. but of
visdcm. of peace and of liberty, on which
men may gaze with admiration forever"
Cannot Furnish information.
Secretary Root has written letter to
he President pro tempore Of the Senate
Cr,...ciI