Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-10

detain you. Let me again thank you with
all my heart for the great honor you have
your respect and confidence, and to assure
you that while life lasts will hold you in
affectionate remembrance.
The Chief Justice.
When Chief Justice Melville w. Fuller of
the United States Supreme Court was called
upon to speak for his ASSOCIATES he said he
had found, twelve or fourteen years ago,
that there was no president that permitted
the chief justice to- make after-dinner
speeches. He hunted through the archives
Of the court and all Ns~records, but to no
avail. The chief just ice had never spoken,
ands1 could not presume to break the Gus
tom. He would be glad to greet Justice
Harlan for his associates and for himself,
but he could not. However, he continued,
it was quite in accordance with custom for
him to delegate the task to one of his asso-
ciates, and therefore he called upon Justice
Brewer to speak, for the court The chief
Justices address was greeted with laughter
and applause. his clever ruse of precedent
effectually disposing of any attempt to
make him continue. He was on his feet
long enough however, to pay an eloquent
tribute to the life and work of Justice Har-
Ian.
Mr.. Justice Brewer.
Mr.. Justice Brewer spoke Of the number of
times he had been called upon by the chief
Justice heretofore to deliver opinions that
the chief justice did not care to assume re-
sponsibility for, a remark which drew forth
laughter from the guests. He then re-
view the lie of Justice Harlan.
ITO have been associated many years
with John NJ. Harlan, anywhere and under
any circumstances. is a legal education"
said Justice Brewer. 1T Is a pleasant task
for me to open here teaight the tender
memories of thirty years experience with
Justice Harlan. Every man Is said to have
his hobby. A justice of the Supreme Court
is not exempt from the ills and humors of
human kind, and so with Justice Harlan.
His hobby is the Constitution of the United
States. l have no doubt he has committed
it to memory, and can recite it for you
from beginning to end and from end to be-
ginning with equal significance But with
all his profound knowledge of its provis
ions, its meanings, ETC., l beg to remind
him that there is nothing in the Constitu-
ton that differentiates between oleomarga-
rine and butter, nor does 1t declare that an
original package should be larger or more
compact than is Justice Harlan himself.
Now, to those of you who know the per-
suasive ways of Justice Harlan will con-
fde the fact that all OF the mistakes made
by the court, which have been SO feelingly
alluded to this evening, were made at the
instance of Justice Harlan. If some Inger-
soil comes along in the days to come and
attempts to catalogue the work of this
court he will call his work when completed,
not the mistakes of Moses. but the errors
of John. Mr. Justice Harlan. I verify be-
leve. retires to his rest at night with one
hand on the Constitution and the other on
the Bible, safe and happy in a perfect faith
In justice and righteousness. If I may par
aphrase the words of the great Daniel Web
ster, with him the Constitution and the flag
are one and inseparable, now and forever"
Justice Brewers address was replete with
o,,I oJn, ant ofc1 81 TO
brother of the bench. He wound up with
a beautiful peroration, in which he ex
tolled the virtues of Justice Harlan and
wished him long life and prosperity.
Senator Hoar
As Senator George Frisbie Hoar of Mas
sachusetts rose to his feet to make the
next address he looked over his spectacles
at the assemblage and after clearing his
throat said in his fatherly fashion: g.,
81 am glad to see that you have not for
gotten the constitutional requirement and
do these things tonight by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate"
When the laughter occasioned by his
opening remark had died out Mr.. Hoar
continued:
THE duty of a judge is discharged in the
face of day. Yet after all he dwells in a
solitude. A judge of this court has to take
great responsibility. He has to settle ques
trymen are deeply stirred. After he has
written his opinion he cannot explain him
self or defend himself. If his opinion be
that Of the court it is very often. according
to the modern practice-of the wisdom or Of
the necessity Of which do not presume to
speak-accompanied by a powerful argu-
ment from one at least of his brethren Of
the bench to show 1t Is all wrong. So. in
general, the reward OF the Judge Is the
consciousness that he has done his duty,
unless, perhaps, he is to enjoy in another
world the privilege Of reading his own
obituary"
Then, after referring to his long &C.
quaintance with the guest Of honor, Sena-
tor Hoar said:
HE has behaved himself we'll The
American people have trusted him with the
interests dearest to them, property and or
der and liberty. and he has been found
worthy Of the trust"
The senator next spoke of the stubborn
strength of the American Constitution, at
which public men the world over marveled
and, continuing, said:
The two elements to which the Constitu-
ton or our country owes this distinction
are the Senate and the Supreme Court.
This great tribunal which keeps the forces
of state and nation alike within their APP
pointed bounds must depend for its author
lty upon the respect and confidence of the
people. That respect and confidence Of the
people must, in my judgment. depend upon
the influence of the legal profession A
court which has their support will endure.
"A court without their support Will perish.
An independent judiciary and an upright
and fearless bar are equally essential to the
administration OF justice, and, wha tever an
ignorant criticism may say, constitute the
most perfect mechanism for the admins
tration Of justice possible under heaven
among men.
There Is. it ceems to me, everything in
the office of Judge of the Supreme Court to
satisfy the Hottest desire of which human
nature is capable. In 1t unite dignity, au-
thority, permanence, security, honor, last
Ing fame, the most lofty of intellectual oc-
equations, rendered delightful by lofty In
tellectual companionship and the conscious
ness of being among the great benefactors
OF mankind. And when after twenty-five
years OF service We say of any man that he
has Worthily filled that place, there is moth
ing more to be said and there Is nothing
more to be desired"
A Tribute FroM Canada.
Canada contributed the next speaker in
the person Of Mr.. Edward Blake, M. p,
one Of the most distinguished lawyers of
the dominion. Mr. BlaAe has been in this
city several days with Mr. Michael Davitt.
and was asked to attend the banquet and
greet Justice Harlan on behalf OF the legal
fraternity Of Canada, because he was
personal friend of the Justice. MIR. Blake
spoke for fifteen minutes on the friend
ship he bore Justice Harlan, making witty
illusions to his friends taste for gardening,
golf, etc. Mr.. Blake said he knew one