Wendell Phillips (1811–1884) exemplified the wonderful power of the skillfully colloquial in public speech, and is a type of the American orator who devotes his ability to correct public abuses, right public wrongs, and educate the public mind and taste. Chiefly as an avowed abolitionist, as advocate of the temperance cause, as champion of the Indians and of woman’s rights to the ballot, and as untiring mover in improving the nation’s penal institutions, Mr. Phillips most largely contributed to public weal and progress.
James Gillespie Blaine (b. June 31, 1830; d. January 27, 1893), whether serving in the House, Senate, or Cabinet, had few equals as a statesman, debater, parliamentarian, or enthusiastic political leader. Though often disappointed in his aspirations for the presidency, he lost none of that wonderful power which he had acquired by reason of his energy, tact, skill, personal magnetism, and knowledge of public men and measures. He became the special champion of the doctrine of reciprocity, and by its practical application during Mr. Harrison’s administration proved its benefits to commerce and international trade relations.
By his splendid series of decisions and opinions, Joseph Story (September 18, 1779; September 10, 1845) shares with John Marshall the merit of determining and of developing towards its fullest capacity the power of the United States Supreme Court, as set forth in the Constitution, over state courts and state legislation. He also practically constructed the United States Admiralty Law and, even to-day, his “Commentaries on the American Constitution,” in connection with both of his foregoing services, is a standard work. He represents the broad and powerful American judicial mind, which has contributed so largely to the integrity of the Union.
James Kent (b. July 31, 1763; d. December 12, 1847) was professor, judge of chancery, justice and chief justice of the N. Y. Supreme Court, and chancellor of New York. He possessed immense legal learning, and to him is primarily due the creation of New York courts of equity. His exhaustive “Commentaries upon American Law” is accepted at home and abroad as one of the great classics of American law literature.
Francis Wharton was born March 7, 1820, and died February 21, 1884. Although at the age of forty-three he exchanged law for the ministry, he still showed the legal tendency of his mind in a long career as professor of ecclesiastical and international law in Boston institutions. He enriched the literature of his profession by many valuable and standard works on law, municipal, state, national, and international, and, under Mr. Cleveland, was of great service to the administration as United States Examiner of International Claims in the Department of State.
OTTO E. L. VON BISMARCK.
Louis Adolphe Thiers, of France (b. April 16, 1797; d. September 3, 1877), was editor, historian, and statesman, and in the latter role became a distinguished leader of French thought and polity. His greatest service to his country was after the Franco-Prussian war, when the Assembly elected him chief of the executive, with the title of “President of the Republic.” In this capacity he was particularly successful in negotiating the terms of peace with Germany, and in fulfilling all the conditions of peace.
