The Washington times., 1902-12-10

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drink to the health Of the President Of
the United States. (which was done with
great enthusiasm.l
My first duty as well as pleasure Is
to thank you. gentlemen Of the bar, for
the signal honor you have done me. l
had supposed that this, the last day of
the twenty-five years Of my judicial
/ service, would pass without observation.
except perhaps within the limits of my
own domestic circle. But you ordered
.otherwise. and ! am here. at your in
vitation. grateful for this generous ex-
prcssion Of good will and person inter-
est.
1T is more than my poor services
have deserved. II my countrymen think
that the duties Of the great office so
| long held by me have been discharged
with conscientious regard for the law,
! or for what / deemed 10 be the law. and
with an eye single to the ends Of justice
and right and truth, my descendants
will have in this estimate Of my judicial
/ life a legacy more precious than any
/ that l could possibly leave 10 them
1t is natural. gentlemen Of the bar,
[ LuIl Oh Nalh OAtd6fDn NY AAAAAArA ---N'N--N-
run back over the period OF my service
| on the bench. and recall something Of
/ the men and measures that have made
( this last generation so memorable IN the
| history OF the country.
The Last Generation.
This is not the occasion to do mere
than mention the names Of the great
captains on both sides OF our civil war
Grant, sherman. Thomas. Meade,
sheridan Lee. Jackson. Johnston. Long
street. and Johnson. all Of whom. save
Longstreet have lCng ago passed over
10 the silent majority. leaving the mem
ory Of their splendid courage. their
marvellous military skill and their high
character. as q rich legacy 20 the whole
American PEOPLE. And yet as ] must on
such an anniversary think Of the march
! Of events as well as mark the flight Of
I the years. I canrot but rejoice. with
I every true American. at the thought OF
l the perfect healing Of those old wounds,
and az the fact thst
The severed sections weary Of debate,
"are again one people loving the one
Tag. acknowledging the one Constitu-
tiOn. and abiding Loyalty by the decisions
Of the one supreme tribunal
But my mind recalls more espc-
cially those with whom I have been as
sOCiated I'm tho administration OF the
law. I'm doing this. memories crowd
upon me that cannot well be reprCsscd.
There cOrne before me the faces OF many.
now gone who were dear TO me and
with whom I had the privilege Of be-
ing associated in judicial work. and
al h. Frraa nF Of nn D
whom 1 had cordial personal relations.
and whose luminous arguments az the
bar Of the Supreme Court VIII long be
remembered by me.
Memorable Names.
"The country will not forget cannot
forget-the services Of Waite. Swayne.
Clifford. Miller. Field. Strong Bradley
Woods. Hunt, Matthews, Gray. Blatch-
ford. Lamar. ard Jackson. Nor can we
forget such splendid leaders Of the bar
as Harrison. Campbell. Bartlett, Evarts.
Thurman. Trumbuli. lockwood. Hoar.
Black. Carpenter Ranney. Conkling. Nc
Donald Phelps. William Allen Butler
Phillips. Wallis. Semmes. Goudy. SWEET.
Storrow, Tucker. Hoadly. Hitchcock. and
Davidge II was TO me delightful as wei
as instructive TO hear those distinguish
ed lawyers discuss important principles
Of constitutional and general law.
In recalling the services Of such en-
inent judges and lawyers the thought
comes 20 me that we may draw from
their lives inspiration for renewed and
higher efforts 10 elevate the standards
OF our noble profession, and 20 increase
the respcrJ Of the people for thc law
as the only foundation upon which free
government can securely rest.
Il have not been insensible gentle
men. TO the distinction, the mere world
~ distinction. of q seat upon the bench
OF the Supreme Court Of the United
States-a tribunal once characterized by
that great lawyer. Horace Binney. as
the august representative OF the Wis
dom and Justice and conscience OF the
whole people. in the exposition OF their
Constitution and laws. as the peace
ful and venerable arbitrator between the
citizens In all questions tChchIng the ex-
tcnt and sway Of constitutional power
and as the great moral substitute Tor
force In controversies between the peo-
pie. the States. and the Union"
A High Honor.
1T is, indeed a high honor to be
a member Of such a tribunal But per
init me to say that there has been no
moment during my term Of service when
] have not been deeply sensible Of the
awful responsibility resting upon every
member OF that court. The power Of
the Supreme Court for good. as well as
for evil can scarcely be- exaggerated. II
f. cannot actually shape the destiny Of
our country. a. can exert a commanding
influence In that direction. II can bv
its judgments strengthen our institu-
rions in the confidence and affections OF
the people. or. more easily than any
other department Of the Government. ID
can undermine the foundations OF our
governmental system
1T can undo the work OF tho fathers
by abrOgating old canons OF constitu-
tutional construction that have heIpad
10 make this The foremost nation OF The
earth. Il can-tO use the words Cf Chief
Justice explain away the
Constitution OF our country. and leave
a.. a magnificent structure. indeed TO
look at but totally unfit fo- use Buf
we all rejoice that IL has 90 in it's pover
to hold. and, in the judgment II America
it has steadily held. the countr, in the
path OF safety so that today our people
believe. as we trust they will always
believe. that the preservation Of the
Union, under the Constitution. fs the
surest guarantee Of liberty regulated by