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Sanford F. Church

Sanford F. Church image
Parent Issue
Day
21
Month
May
Year
1880
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Tho death of Sanford E. Chureh removes froni the benoh of tlie highest court of New York to the court above, one of the eminent jurista oí this country. He was universally conceded to be apure and bonest man. Duringa service of nearly ten yars as chief justice his decisions were unqnestloned save in onc instance, and that by Chas. O"Connor who impugned his integrity in conTweed matter. Mr. Ohureli'srrlainness of manner and exceeding aflability gave him a popular hold pon the rank and file of the party to whichhe gave lif e-long adhesión rareI'y equalled, and probably not excelled by any other man ín New York except Cov. Seymour. This popnlarlty was taken advantage ofbycontinuotiBSOIicitation tor prèferment. He was a seeker of office in the fujl sense of the word. In 1870 he was cominated for chief justice of the court of appeals in order to shelve him and rid the party of unceasing importunities for place. It wns supposed this position with n salary of $7500 would satisfy lam and leave room for others looking for political distinction. Bnt it can be truly said it did not, for, though it served to check his ambition to a considerable extent, there was a lurking, unsatisflèd desica to be relieved from the ermine and enter the arena for higher honors. In fact Mr. Chureh, like many other men, hoped to git in the executive mansion. The mit of bis nmbition was the white house, and how to get there was a deep study. In the lloehesler convention of 1S74 Messrs. Tilden and O't'onnor urged the gubernatorial nomination upon Mr. Church. Holding the reformed democracy in thoir hands, rescued f rom the the hands of Tweed, these men.believing success before them, appealed to Mr. Church to Iead the party to victovy. Jmlge Cluin.-h carefully weighed the situation, balancing the liability of losing the race and with it a Ufe office. His timidity (ivercame hit. Here was a step toward the presidential nomination of 187f, dependent of course on victory in the contest of 1874. Looking at the 50,000 majority Dix received in 1872 there was no hope, and his fears prevented hun fr m seizing Upan the opportune occasion oï hia life. In the quietof his court he failed to observe the profound movement among the Biasses, tired of the scandala of Granfs adniinistration that presaged the tidal wave of 1874. Thepoliticalsagacity of Mr. Tilden impelled hitn to take the field, and electionfollowed bv 53.000 maiority. He signalized bis administration by such crowning reforma and ecouomies that the nomination at Kt. Louis was a matter of form. Mr. Tilden thus stepping into the leadership of the party at a time ■when Mr. ('lmrcli faltered, provoked the enmity of Church and his friends especially in western Jíew York. This enmity costing Mr. Tilden thousandsof votes in the campaign of 1876, annually grew more bitter, and Mr. Church died in deep hatred of the man who, throwing the glittering prize in his path, never forgave him for taking it himself and going to victory with it. Of the four new Methodist Bishops only one, the Rev. Dr. Warren of Philadelphia, is promoted directly trom the tanks of the travellng preachers. Dr. Foss, -vell known in N. ir. city from his two pastoral terms in St. Paul's ehiueh on Foiirth avenue, has been President if Weslcyan rniversity since the f all of 1S7."; Dr. Haven has been Chaneellor of Syracuse University since 1870. and before that had been in turn ■ college professor, editor of the Methodist weekly newspaper in 15oston, President of Michigan rniversity. and President of the Northwestern University, near Chicago; the Rev. Dr. Hurst has been President of the Drew Theological Seminavy since 1873, havingbeeti before tliat a tutor in classics íhhI a pro: of tbeology in a Methodist institution in Germany. All four make a show of sebolarship. mi'; al !.-.:-i three of thetn have had the ;e of travling away.from homo. Dr. Haven ia in his 60th year; Dr. Fosa celebrated his 46th birthday in January, Dr. Ilurst Will celelirutc his 46th birthday in August, and as Dr. Warren graduated at Middletown in 1853 lie eannot be many years, ir he asnj , ttretr omrtur. The late riot in Chicago called by courtésy a repnblican county convention, will b; nothing compared to the toimy time anticipiited on the 2d of June. TTie conflicting elemente will be roused to ftever heat. Fricnds of the several rival' candidatos who at iirst bowed in meek snbmission to the Graal dictation now wear a bold front arre promise to dispute every inch of grouni until a noraination is linally reacLed It will undoubtedly be the liveliest conention this country has ever S' en. It is plainly apparent that Wm. Pit' Kellogg willbe allo wed to stay in the Senate, pot for aiiy love of the man or admir.ilkm for the character of tlie legislature that ed hirn. But bis case alter prolonged discussion was presumed to have been settled when he ■was adtnitted, and expulsión now would make a dangerous precedent that mighJ effect minorities tuo seiiously in the future. Grant said his old frlend and parson. Newman, v. ould make an excellent Bishop. But the Oincinnati conf erence detVatcd hina fiar Bishop, then for Missionary Scci-etarv and linally for Becretary of the (ümivh Kxtension Society Brothcr Xewman's luck waspoorinthe house of his niligiuus friends. But let the third term succeed and the parson will be in clover again.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Argus