The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-08-28

ly interest in public affairs in this
county and actively participated in
politics. For years prior to his eleva-
ton to the Bench of the Circuit Court
he was undoubtedly the leader of his
party in this county. In the main
tenance and advocacy of his political
conviction he was frank and fearless,
| but usually this was united with
courtesy and proper consideration for
all who entertained different views.
He was untiring in advancing the in
terests and claims of his friends to
public favor. But strong as he was
in his political convictions, earnest as
he was in his zeal for his friends, plain
and outspoken as he was in their be-
half, partisan as he was at times, he
was generally just and fair to those
who differed with him; no man would
more readily admit an error. 1t would
be utterly impossible, my brothers,
for such man as David w. Sloan
was, to go through this life as he did
without creating antagonisms and
making some enemies. 1t is not the
happy lot of any man who takes part
in politics or public affairs; especially
Is 1t not the happy lot of one of such
'
our brother Sloan had.
with fame, in just proportion, envy grows.
The man that makes a character. makes
foes
But, my brothers, | do mean to in
slst, that for every enemy our brother
made he left behind him scores of
friends in all parties and in all grades
of society; that he honestly and faith
fully tried to do right according to the
lights which God gave him to see it;
that all who knew him well, all who
were placed in intimate association
with him can think of and remember
him with pleasure and profit. As a
general rule what the evil men do
lives after them; the good is oft in
tered with their bones.n But in this
case, owing to the amiable DISPOSE
ton, the affability. the modesty, the
generous and kindly impulses of our
departed brother | believe this rule
will be reversed. However, whatever
Others may do or say while we drop
the sympathetic tear on our departed
brothers grave let charity enable us
to throw vail over his foibles, what
ever they may have been, and not
withhold from his memory the praise
which his virtues may have claimed.
The wisest and best, of men in all ages
of the world, have erred; perfection
has never been attained in this world.
and as long as human nature remains
as it is, it never will be.
Our departed brother was, in many
respects, a remarkable man; in many
respects he was a man of mark among
men of mark. Notwithstanding he
had been prior to his election as
judge, actively engaged in the strifes
and turmoils of political warfare.
when he assembled the Bench he was
! man enough to rise above and be-
yOnd them, and hold the scales of JUS
tice evenly balanced between litigants
as well as the counsel engaged. He
soon became the just, impartial Judge.
He was well grounded in the great
principles of the law, and possessing
| las | have said) a strong, clear, evenly
balanced mind and an honest heart,
he readily grasped intricate and i'm
portant legal questions with force and
clearness. Judge Sloan was not a
doubter; he was not afraid to decide
questions of law or fact when present.
ed to him; he had confidence in his
own ability to reach the right and
justice of a controversy. He also had
in marked degree that rare faculty,
ability (for such it is) of brushing
away technicalities and the rubbish
getting at the kernel, the meat, the
right and the justice in a dispute be-
tween itigants. Had he lived to fill
I,nt fN, IT. 4. l., Il I
he would have undoubtedly develop
ed into one of the very best Circuit
Court Judges in this State. Notwith-
standing he was actively engaged in
the practice of the law, in public af-
fairs, in private business affairs and
in the discharge of official duties near
ly all his life, he found time to study
his profession and to store his mind
with general and useful literature. He
was a student to the last; he was fond
of good books and had a well selected
library. Judge Sloan was not what
we generally call an eloquent speaker,
but was strong and forceful before the
Court, the jury or the people. He was
able to use his knowledge of men, of
the law and general information with
great skill and ingenuity. He was
good lawyer and man of wonder
fully good Judgment. He was a good
conversationalist and consequently an
agreeable, pleasant companion.
He was taken sick on the night of
the 9th of March, 1901. was with
him in his own home the night he was
taken sick. From that time until his
death, | doubt if he ever really had
one comfortable hour. Aside from
the duty imposed upon me as a broth
er Master Mason to visit and comfort
"a distressed worthy brother" it was
a real pleasure for me to do so in his
case. Consequently | was with him
a great deal during his long and tedi-
GUS sickness. IneYer have seen a more
patient man under affliction than he
was. Only once during his sickness
did | ever hear him complain; that
! was few evenings before he was put
to bed for the last time. He seemed
to be suffering a good deal that even
ing when called to see him, and said
he was tired of the fight and wished
it would end one way or the other. |
| tried to cheer him up and encouraged
him to hope on and fight on. He was
! very respondent that evening. l
| think he was greatly disappointed at
his failure to secure more lasting and
permanent results from his visit to
the Virginia Hot Springs. He seemed
] to feel that he had fought the good