The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-03-07
AMERICAS GREATEST JUR1ST.
Born in Virginia Sept. "A 1855. Died IL
Philadelphia July 6, 1885.

VII l. CUIuoly ioVl3 cVuA 4aAUAoh"iAs
Virginia's illustrious son, was appointed,
at the age of forty five, chief justice of
the Supreme Court of the United States.
On February 4, 1901, in honor of his
brilliant services to his country, me-
mortal meetings were held at Washing
ton, Boston, and many other cities. 1t
was very appropriately called Marshall
Day." though not the anniversary of
his birth. Many of the most promi
nent lawyers on the bench and at the
bar, as well as professors in law schools
connected with our largest universities,
assembled to honor, with appropriate
observances, the centennial of the en-
trance of this distinguished man into
his lofty position, which he filled with
marked ability for more than thirty-four
years. Rarely does any occasion call
out such an array of talent. Evidently
the orators at the various gatherings
made very careful preparation. Most
and literary finish.
In connection with the observances
at Boston, Prof. Tucker, dean of the
law school of the Washington and Lee
University, Va, said that Judge Mar
shal1's logical power and power of
analysis have never been excelled, and
perhaps never equaled on the bench;
and his masterful opinions, which filled
our reports for more than one-third of
a century, will remain unimpaired after
the muSty volumes containing them
have fallen to dust" After referring
to the services he rendered to the
nation, Prof Tucker closed his some
what lengthy address in these words:
Virginia lays her tribute of affection
upon his grave today, as her peerless
citizen. Dutiful as son, affectionate
as a parent, tender as husband, honest
and able as a lawyer, wise as legisla-
tor, profound as Judge, he measured
up to the highest standard of citizen
ship. and thereby furnished a noble eX-
ample worthy of all imitation by the
youti of our country for all coming
generations"
Hon. Richard Olney, EX.-Secretary Of
state, in the course of his address said
Judge Marshall's work was of as high
nature as any to which human facul-
ties could be addressed, and the manner
in which it was done was such that any
thing better iii the way of execution
was difficult to conceive
MI O. W. Holmes, chief justice of
Massachusetts, in his Grafton said: IF
American law were to be represented
by single figure, all must agree that
the figure can be hut one alone, and
that one John Marshall"
Prof. j. A. Thayer of the Harvard
Law School remarked: 'In that long
judicial life with which providence
blessed him, and blessed his country, he
was able to lay down a succession of
cases so plainly and with such fulness,
with such simplicity and strength of
argument, such a cordial allowance for
for all that was to be said on the other
side, in a tone so far removed from bit
terness, so natural and fit for a great
man addressing the serene reason of
mankind, as to commend those things
to the minds of men, and finally to fix
them into the jurisprudence of the
nation; so that when the storm came
and the rains fell and the winds blew
and beat upon that house, it fell not,
for it was founded upon rock"
The Hon. Wayne Mac Neagh's Grafton
in Washington occupied nearly two
hours in delivery, and was listened to-
and applauded, by Congress, by the
President and cabinet, and by the mem
bers of the Supreme Court. He re-
viewed Mr. Marshall's services while
chief justice, and said that his ''decis-
ions were epoch making, and that the
influence he eXerted made for the FIJI
ture glory and strength of the Union"
Reference was made by some of the
speakers, at the anniversary gatherings,
to the positions Mr.. Marshall had filled
before he was elevated to his high office,
such as United States Envoy to France,
member of Congress from Virginia,
author, and Secretary of State under
the presidency of the first Adams
filling every place with distinction and
honor. In Mr.. MarshalIs case it could
truly be said that the man honored the
position rather than the position the
man.
But while all the speakers paid the
highest tribute to Judge MarshalPs I'M
usual gifts, some emphasizing one trait
in his character and some another, not
one of them-so far as | have seen their
speeches reported any reference
to the great jurist's religious faith, or to
his general knowledge outside of legal
lore. A biograt her of Dante and Hill
debraDd says that they mastered all the
movable subjects of their day. And
in our time reference has frequently
been made to the wide range of Mr..
Gladstone's education He could write
Greek and Latin poetry, and was an au-
thDrity an scientific apd thooIoriool