judge Robert Roberts Bishop iriends made every effort along a high plane of argument to show the true
status of the party in Massachusetts, and to place before the people the
benefits it had conferred in contrast with the mistakes and errors which seemed apparent to many voters. Sena tor Hoar, who, previous to the nomina tion, had favored Mr. Crapo, at once turned to and did his utmost in this direction. but in many quarters leaders proved lukewarm and toward the end a very considerable number of votes were “traded" with a view to help General Butler. His opponent attracted to himself every possible vote from the members of every party to which he had ever
9
delivered a speech to his constituents, the keynote of which he announced as "the stone which the builders rejected has become the headstone of the comer." Although General Butler owed his triumph to the so-called tidal wave of 1882, which swept over the entire coun try, elevating Grover Cleveland to the
Govemorship in New York and deposing Cameron in Pennsylvania, and although
Mr. Bishop shared the fate of Republican nominees in twenty-six other states, yet he felt his defeat most keenly. Prob ably no man, with the possible exception of Governor Long, could have defeated Butler in 1882, yet “the will of the
people," as Mr. Bishop termed it, seemed to him most humiliating. After this contest he did not again enter politics,
belonged — Republican, Democratic, Greenback. Probably in 1882 he
but returned for a time to the private
preached socialistic doctrines more than anything else. He advocated a reno
practice of the law, and in 1888, after having once declined at similar honor, he
vation in all departments and the issu ance of an unlimited supply of paper
became Associate Justice of the Massa
and voted accordingly. Many felt curi ous “to see what the old man would
chusetts Superior Court.’7 Here he entered a congenial field of work better adapted to his temperament, and here he remained until his death, October 7,
really do.” and, as was once said of
1909.
Blaine when he became Speaker in Congress. “he won because he proved
A judgeship since the earliest days has been rightly esteemed a high honor in
better at making promises."
Massachusetts.
money.
A large class listened eagerly
Butler
For this Lemuel Shaw.
pointed out that there had never been
gave up a practice netting him from
a soldier Governor since the war, and a rumor was started in Cohasset that if
$15,000 to $20,000 a year to become Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court at a salary of $3,000. On the bench have sat Justices Bigelow, Horace
Mr. Bishop were elected he would abolish state and military aid to veterans. The word "contraband” was dinned into the ears of the negroes, but otherwise General Butler’s war record was ignored as much as possible.
In the end Suffolk county decided
Gray, Devens, Morton, Colt and others of juristic repute. In early times this bench constituted the only appellate court within the Commonwealth, but in 185928 the Superior Court was established,
the election. Here in Boston, through money furnished by Butler, twelve thou sand names had been placed upon the voting list, and here on the evening of
'7 judge Bishop received his appointment March 7, 1888. from Oliver Amos, the successful candidate for Lieutenant-Govemor in 1882, later Governor. See History Of the judiciary in Massachusetts.
November 7, after the results had be
'‘Acts and Rmolves, 1859. ch. 196. See also "The New England States," William F. Davis. vol. 3, cha ter on the Massachusetts Judiciary by Albert ason, C. J.
come known, General Butler came and
William F. Davis. p. 263.
