"I trust that I may be pardoned a word by way of intro- duction. In centering our thought upon a single character and endeavoring to render him that recognition to which he is justly entitled it is wise to discover the especial field of service which gave him his opportunity and which furnishes the stand- ards for the judgments of his fellow men. If he has won only local distinction one set of estimates will be employed. If the field is coterminous with that of the state another standard must be employed. If he has risen to national prominence it is evident that he must be viewed from a wider angle, as he will be called upon to balance larger counterweights in the scales that are held by the blindfolded goddess. Moreover, as men succeed men in places of great honor and corresponding re- sponsibilities there are inevitable comparisons and consequent judgments. Let us trust that the volumes that issue from this admirable society shall be far more than mere tributes of af- fection, manifestations of local pride, or exhibitions of indis- criminate hero worship. They should have all of the reliability possible under condition of nearness, intimate association, and warm personal regard. The subject of this brief sketch was distinguished locally ; he attained such prominence in the state of his adoption as to be the candidate of his party for the most conspicuous office within gift; he twice represented his dis- trict in the national congress; his supreme achievement was his promotion to a position in which only a single life inter- vened between him and the noblest political dignity within the gift of men. It thus appears that he is to be estimated not from