Jonathan E. Arnold. contemplation, I have lost long ago all part isan feeling and all political ties. The plat form of the Constitution is the only ground of safety." Mr. Arnold held few elective offices. Early in his professional career he was dis trict attorney of Milwaukee county. In 1840—41, he represented Milwaukee in the territorial council. In the latter year he was the Whig candidate for delegate to Congress, but was defeated by Governor Henry Dodge. Mr. Arnold frequently rep resented his party in State and national con ventions. He attended as a delegate the National Whig Convention which made General Scott its standard - bearer. Mr. Arnold was greatly disappointed at the re sult of that nomination. He was a great admirer of Daniel Webster and had gone to that convention with a full determination to be satisfied with nothing less than the great statesman's nomination for the Presidency. When the final dissolution of the Whig party came, Mr. Arnold cast his fortunes with the Democratic party. He remained with it the balance of his life. In 1860, he was that party's candidate for Congress, but was defeated by John F. Potter, of " bowie knife " fame. He was never again a candi date for any other office. Mr. Arnold was a staunch friend of the Union during the war of the rebellion. He assisted the Union cause with both voice and pen. Some of his speeches on those occasions possessed great power and eloquence. In govern mental affairs, however, it is well known that Mr. Arnold was a pronounced conserv ative. And owing to his tastes, habits of
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thought, and retiring disposition, he was not particularly strong with the masses. His political successes were certainly a minus quantity. In pursuing his investigations of the subject of this paper, the writer has been forci bly reminded of the transitory character of the fame of a great lawyer. He lives upper most in the events and affairs of his time, dies, and is forgotten. Others appear con temporaneously, possessing inferior quali ties of head and heart, make history, and give to the world names that do not die. They are not truly great. And yet their names are household words, and their fame seems to be green always. While the mem ber of a great and noble profession, who exercises the highest order of ability, has in his keeping confidences and destinies of the most sacred and delicate nature, protects the rights, interests and properties of those who are threatened with danger, the conse quences of which may be far-reaching, not only for the present generation, but for gen erations to come, has only a small share of passing commendation, goes into the shades, with a life-work a vague and indistinct mem ory, unheralded and unsung. It is unfor tunate that this is so. Yet who is to com plain? Mr. Arnold was admittedly a great lawyer. The few remaining living contemporaries attest that. Great as he was, great in ability, great in knowledge, great in conscious power, as a lawyer and an orator, but a comparatively few years yet remain before his name and fame will have passed into oblivion. Such is the mandate ofTime. Such is the decree of History.
