New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-29
4 FAITHFUL CITIZEN.
J[r Foord's Memoir of the Late
Simon .SterRe.

sTERNE- BY John FooTd- I2Ino pp. K. S-S. The
Macmillan Company
The subject Of this friendly memoir was
man whose thoughts turned. when he was still
IN his twenties. 10 questions Of the public good,
and whose character thenceforth steadily de-
veloped along the lines that make for useful
citizenship II the value OF his outgivings on
public TOPICS was sometimes impaired by too
confiding a belief IN the efficacy Of the poIti-
cal theories ne adopted. ne was. at sI events
sincere and devoted. a brief volume In memory
OF his character and achievements could not put
be welcome to MS many friends and in pre-
parfng such a tribute MI Foord has taken pains
20 appeal 10 al readers interested in the move
rnents with which Mr.. Sterne was Identified
Sir. sterne who was born in Philadelphia In
1899 began his studies in q public school, con-
tinaed them for a short time at Heidelberg, and
then proceeded. AZ the University OF Pennsyl-
vania. 20 lay the foundations Of his long and
successful career as a lawyer. He was admit
tea TO the bar q few months after his gradua-
ton. z fact which Mr.. FOOrd justly takes as
testifying to his possession Of Unborn ability
since. al the time. Dir. Sterne had barely
reached manhood. and had been handicapped IN
his years Of preparatory study not only by
poor health. but also by the necessity OF earn
ing enough TO pay for his tuition" He began the
practice OF his profession with SuIncleHl al OOA'
yet he was at the outset attracted by political
economy as a subject in the exposition Of which
his sympathies and aptitudes would find the
most congenial exercise and early in the GUS
he threw himself with enthusiasm into the prep
aration OF a series of lectures his theme at
Cooper Institute His work bore good fruit, and
practice in journalism served to confirm his
confidence I'm his ideas. a trip TO England at
about this period gave him more TO thlhh
about. He met John Bright, John Stuart MIL
Herbert Spencer and other distinguished indi-
viduals and intercourse with them, which was
continued in after years. further fortified his
mind. Down to the day OF his death II was ms
habit to consider practical issues in the light OF
gravely reasoned hypothesis.
PERHAPS he reasoned too closely, too curious
~ at times. and thereby weakened his hold on
the broader aspects Of the question before him.
but there was a vein Of shrewdness in this eager
reformer, and again and again he rendered eI-
fective service. He dealt TO good purpose with
the labor problem in his Cooper Institute lect-
ures and while his views as a member of the Free
Trade League hardly commended themselves to
this journal, his attitude toward the gold stand
ard was unimpeachable. As a Democrat he re-
served the right TO criticise his party. Sincere
adrnirer as Mr.. Sterne was Of the character and
ability of President Cleveland" says Mr. Foord'
he found il impossible to give unqualified APP
proval to the position which Mr.. Cleveland had
taken in his celebrated Venezuelan message
This book constantly brings out his lnde-
pendence Of judgment. the individuality which
he brought % the discussion of all questions OF
party politics and legislative reform.