Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-15
JUSTICE TO WILSON
Little Understood Signer Of
Declaration of independence.
TRAINER OF CONSTITUTION
Member Of First United States Su-
preme Court.
GRAVE IN NORTH CAROLINA
Remains Taken Back to Philadelphia
and Inferred In Old Historic
Christ Church.
RAVE IN NORTH CAROLINA
writtsn for The Star.

| Written for The Star.
Tardy honor has Just been done the MEM
Org Of James Wilson, q signer OF the Decla-
ration OF Independence and the Constitution
OF the United States.
For one hundred and eight years his body
| lay In an almost unknown grave at Eden
! ton, N. G.. but patriotic Pennsylvanians
have Just retrieved their long neglect. and
| the morta. remains Of the patriot are now
reposing beside those Of his wife In historic
old Christ churchyard, Philadelphia
Seldom has such honor been paid to the
remains Of any man as that which attended
| the homecoming. State and nation Joined
| In the tribute.
The governor Of Pennsylvania personally
suparintendsd the disinterment OF the body
| and its escort back to Philadelphia.
Secretary Of the Navy Moody and Justice
White Of the United States Supreme Court
spoke for the nation.
| Andrew Carnegie added the tribute OF
Scotchman. from which race Wilson sprenS.
Alton b. Parker spoke for the bar OF the
nation and Samuel Dickson represented the
bar Of Pennsylvania. DR.. 8. Weir Mltcnen
was fitting spokesman for American To-
| tsrs, and William Draper Lewis proper
speaker for the University OF PennsyivaMs'
which took an active part In all the move
ments looking to the return OF the BODY:
Although one of the greatest minas OF the
| revolution, James Wilson has until the re-
cent revival Of interest in him ranked as
! one Of the lesser lights Of the memorable
| conflict.
Did Not Court Applause.
He was not popular or in the limelight
| in the sense that men like wash
ington, Jefferson or Adams were. he
did not court the applause Of the crowd'
and he was against extreme measures al
| ways In the Continental Congress he was
| one of the last to admit that time na4
| come when 1t was unavoidable 10 oreah
| with the mother country, OUT When nna1y ~
| he reached his conviction he became one OF
! the most ardent and incorporating cnam-
| pions Of complete freedom. 49,
| But he wanted freedom allied with 1udg-
ment. He was against any system .nat usI
government that could at all times fepress
any internal discussions.
| His lack Of the spectacular and his strong
| arguments for a powerful central g0vern-
ment may to q large extent explain why ne
never ranked as a hero. Pennsyivanlans
| never gave their affection to their abe
young signer; he was only tnrty,tnree
| when he put his name to the 1mmortai ooc-
ument. -.
At the dedication Of the new capital az
Harrisburg recently President Rooseveit
appealed for the memory OF wilson. ne
pointed out the far-reaching importance OF
Wilson'S teachings and doctrines and gave
| him credit Of being the first member OF tne
American bar to point out the great truth
that In cases where the United states Con-
stttution does not delegate the power OF ac-
ton to the federal government, but where
action by the states independently might
conflict with the general gooo' tnen an s.aSe
law must give way to the opngation ..
Washington to control for the pest hlefes's
of the nation as whole.
Impetus to the Movement.
This speech of the President gave i'm
petus to the movement already on foot to
bring the body of Wilson back to Philadel-
mia that he might be buried beside his wife
and close to the historic building In which
he performed the act that assures his place
It is appropriate that Wilson should find
| his last resting place in Christ Church, lor
more filled with historic memories than this
old edifice in which Washington worshped,
| and in whose yard are inferred the remains
| of dozens Of famous revolutionary figures.
philadelphia. He was born in foreign
| land. and he died in another state. He was
| a great debater, with most proiound
knowledge Of law, but his speech entirely
lacked In magnetism.
Yet 30 much of a factor was he In e1-
pounding the Constitution that Washington
appointed him to membership IN the nrse
Supreme Court Of the United states. be.
lend invaluable aid to the proper appiica.
ton of the new organic law in the crucial
period Of the young nations history.
It has been said by Carnegie that no
eighteenth century played more important
part in its history, or brought to the task
q shrewder and better equipped mind.
Notable Reputation.
His splendid education, received In Scot
land caused him to be placed Immediately
as a teacher in the University Of Pennsyl-
vania, and after serving there for short
time, he took up the study OF law. and
made a notable reputation.
I'm the seven years intervening between
the time he signed the Declaration Of Indie
pendence and his fortieth year he forged
constitutional convention he was the ad-
mitted leader Of the Pennsylvania bar.
His capacity is attested by the many
trusts he was assigned
wilson became one Of the foremost fig
ures In the convention that framed the
Constitution. and his services were at that
time frankly acknowledged. but It was the
misfortune Of Wilson to offend the radical
wings by his attitude on many questions.
AS foremost lawyer OF his state he re-
ceived cases from wealthy and unpopular
clients. and succeeded 30 wen IN these in mat
a. the mouthpiece Of the monopolists-a
form Of accusation that sounds strangely
modern.
70 such an extreme did this prejudice go
that Wilson and number Of his friends.
including Robert Morris, who financed the
revolution, were attacked In Wilson's house.
At Sd and Walnut streets. Philadelphia. A
pitched battle ensued, In which three lives
were lost It continued till troops arrived
and chased the mob.
This incident went far to drive Wilson
% q change Of residence. It was not in his
proud nature to explain or strive to Justify
himself. Wilson always felt that his serv-
ices to the nation had been OF q kind that
should have kept his motives from being
misunderstood. In the closing days Of his
life he withdrew to Edenton. N. c.
Opposed Electoral College.
Yet the belief that classed Wilson with
aristocrats was totally unjust. He was
one Of the most aggressive advocates for
choosing President by means Of the direct
popular vote. He always denied the utility
Of the electoral college. that cumbersome
body. which Il some day certain to be done
away with.
In the body that drew up the Constitu-
/ ton were many who commended that the
President ought to be selected by a vote Of
Congress. It was against these that the
| lot Cd hui