The Life and Public Services of Simon Sterne. By John
Foord. (Macmillan and Co. 6s.)—Mr. Simon Sterne was a conspicuous example of a maxim, true of every civilised country, but specially true of the United States, that many of the best and most useful citizens are found outside the governing class. Mr. Sterne was actively interested in all matters that concerned the welfare of his country, and exercised a weighty influence in determining them. He never held office; he did not sit in the Senate or House of Representatives, or in any State Legislature ; he was not pro- moted to the Judicial Bench ; but he had much to do with legis- lation and law, and whatever he did tended to the public good. In this country it would scarcely be possible for a man of such powers to stand outside official life. The question whether it is good or bad for the State that this should be so cannot be easily determined, and is certainly beyond our province here. The story of Sterne's life primarily concerns the American people, but it has no little interest for us. The questions which occu- pied him are, for the most part, still in existence, and are as near to us as they are to our kinsmen on the other side.
Previous page
