The Minneapolis journal., 1902-12-10

Washington. Dec 1o.--The dinner by the
kar of the supreme court of the United
States at the new Willard hotel last night
to Justice John Marshall Harlan. in
recognition OF the completion of twenty
hVe years OF service on the bench Of the
supreme court. was brilliant function.
Justice Harlan was in his happiest mood
and gave every evidence of his apprecia-
ton Of the honor bestowed on him.
interest in the banquet outside Of Jus
.f1ce Harlan centered in President Roose-
Velt. His arrival shortly after $3.50 o'clock
was the signal for great outburst of hp-
plause The president warmly congratu-
lated Justice Harlan, grasping him by
both hands before taking his seat
When the time for speechlnakng ar
rived Wayne MacVeagh in few appro-
pirate remarks introduced the president |
who spoke as follows:
The Presidents Remarks.
'0ft Is A peculiar privilege to be here to-
night as one OF those gathered to do hon.
age to a career which has honored Amer
lea 1t is difficult to say certain Of the
truths which must needs be said without
being guilty of truisms in saying them.
1t IS not an idle boast of this country when
we speak of the court upon which Justice
Harlan sits as the most ilustrous and i'm
portant in all the civilized world. 1t is
not merely our own people who say that
Mr.. Justice Harlan has served for a
quarter of a century on that court Dur
ing that time he has exercised an influence
ever the judicial craftsmanship Of the
court Of kind such as is possible only
under our own form Of government .
For the judges Of the supreme court of
the land must be not only great Jurlsts,
but they must be great constructive states
meE. And the truth Of what say is illus
rated by every study Of American states
manship. for in not one serious study OF
American political life will it be impOS-
sihle to omit the immense part played by
the supreme court in the creation not
merely the modification Of the great poll
ces through and by means Of which
the country has moved on to her present
position.
"Thricc fortunate is the court when 1t
has as one Of it's members man who has
played "a great part in other spheres of our
complete life. Mr. Justice Harlan caTne
from kentucky. state in which the
patriotism Of the people was put TO so pc
culiarIy a severe test in the civil war. In
the states of the farther north. 1t was
easy for a man to make up his mind on
which side he would unsheath his sword
In the states Of the farther south 1T was
equally easy. In Kentucky the task was
q difficult one.
Il remember Mr.. Justice. being told by
an American. who was stanch friend OF
yours and one Of tine greatest lawyers
and most patriotic citizens whom TINS
country had-John Mason Brown-that he
came back from a trip from the west as
& Young man Of u. just at the time or me
outbreak Of the civil war, just after Sum
ter had been fred upon. and his mother
brought down to him the sword that his
father had carried in the Mexican var,
and said to him: My son. this is. the
sword your father carried. I hope you
will draw it on the side that defends! the
flag for which your father fought, but for
one side the other draw 1T you must
Nppla ause.)
IN any audience in any state Of the.
union. take it as far north as you wish,
[ can appeal with confidence to the peo-
pie I address when l say that next to the
homage we pay to the man who proved
the truth of their endeavor AS they pat
tied in the blue uniform, is the homage
we pay to the men who. with equal sim
cerity with equal devotion, tp the right
as it was given them to see the right.
wore the gray. Loud and continuous
epplause.) And none pay that tribute of
regard so frankly as those. who themselves
wore the blue In battle.
And having said that 1 am sure that
none Of my friends who fought in the
confederate service will msundersS and
me, or will grudge what l am about to
say when say that the greatest debt
owed by this$=country to any set of men
border states. the men who in statesman
ship followed Clay and the Crittendens
and the Blairs the men who soldiers
fought on the same side with Thomas and
with Farragut. the men who were for the
union without regard to whether their i'm
mediate associates were for it not
Cloud applause.) In New York, in Mas
sachusetts in Illinois. in Iowa. the men
who stood for the union went with the
stream. In parts Of Kentucky, Of Vir-
gnia, Of Missouri, they stemmed the tor
rent. And, gentlemen. am half south
erner myself. Two of my unces fought
in the confederate navy. One of them
served under the father-in-law Of Vice
Governor Luke Wright Of the Philippine
islands, And I think I have the right
to say that. knowing the southern people
as I do. 1 would heartily advocate fight
ing twice as hard you fought from 81
to '65 for the privilege of staying in the
same union with them. daughter ant
applause.)
1T will be bad thing for the nation il
ever we grow nation to submit to the
suppression Of efficiency and morality i
we grow to accept the belief tina we are
to have two camps. in of which will
be, grouped the men who mean we'll bu
who do not do things and in thu Other
the men who do things but do not NEAR
we'll. daughter and loud applause.)
"The art Of successful self-governme en-
is not an easy art for people or for In.
divduals. 1t comes to our people her,
as the inheritance Of ages Of effort ! L
IAN be thrown away; it can be unlearnet
very easily, and it will surely be un
learned If we forget the vital need no