By Edward P. Guild.
A citizen of Massachusetts, eminent in public and private life, and now
in the prime of manhood, is the Hon. William W. Crapo, of New
Bedford. He is the son of Henry Howland Crapo, a man of marked abilities
and with a distinguished career, whose father was a farmer in humble
circumstances in Dartmouth, the parent town of New Bedford, and able to
give but meagre opportunities for education to his son. Henry had,
however, a thirst for knowledge, and his determination in providing
himself with the means of study affords a parallel to the early life of
Lincoln. It is told of him, that having no dictionary in his father's
house, he undertook to be his own lexicographer in the task of preparing
one. He soon fitted himself as a school teacher and afterwards became a
land surveyor in New Bedford. As a man of ability and integrity, he at
once began to rise to positions of trust, and among the offices he held
were those of City Treasurer and Trustee of the Public Library. He was
interested in the whale fisheries, then the great enterprise of this
famous seaport, and was a successful business man.
In 1857, having made extensive timber purchases in Michigan, he removed
to that state, where he took an active part in political affairs. In
1865, he was elected Governor of that State and held the office for four
years. He was a lover of books all his life, and was the author of
articles on horticulture in which subject he was an enthusiastic
amateur.
William Wallace Crapo was born in Dartmouth, May 16, 1830, and was the
only son in a family of ten children. He inherited his father's passion
for learning and knowledge, and although his father's means were
limited, he was given all possible opportunity for study. He was first
in the New Bedford public schools, then at Phillips Academy in Andover,
where he prepared for college. He graduated at Yale--which has since
conferred upon him the Degree of Doctor of Laws,--in the class of 1852.
Deciding on the study of law, he attended the Dane law school at
Cambridge, and subsequently entered the office of Governor Clifford in
New Bedford. In February 1855, he was admitted to the Bristol bar, and
in the following April was elected City Solicitor, an office which he
continued to hold for twelve consecutive years.
Mr. Crapo's first active part in politics was about a year after his
admission to the bar. Fremont and Dayton were in 1856 nominated as the
Republican candidates for the Presidency and Vice Presidency. Mr. Crapo
was an earnest surporter of the candidates and made very effective
speeches in their behalf in his section of the state. In the same year
he was chosen to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and the
following year, when only twenty-seven years of age, was tendered a seat
in the Massachusetts Senate, but declined the honor. His father this
year removed to Michigan, and the son who remained became a worthy
successor to the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens. He was
actively interested in the establishment of the New Bedford Water-works,
and from 1865 to 1875 held the office of Chairman of the board of Water
Commissioners. As Bank President, as director in extensive manufacturing
corporations, and in other similar positions of trust and responsibility
he acquired the reputation of being a sound business man, and an able
financial manager. In all of these positions he has ever enjoyed the
complete confidence and respect of his associates.
Mr. Crapo has been a diligent student of the history of the Old Colony
and especially of the early settlement of Dartmouth, and he has rendered
valuable contributions to the historical literature of the State. The
address delivered by him at the Bi-Centennial Anniversary of the town of
Dartmouth in 1864 and his address at the Centennial Celebration in New
Bedford in 1876 exhibit his accurate research and his facility of clear
and forcible expression. The closing sentences of the latter address
were as follows:---
"We must preserve the results of the past. But this is not our whole
duty. The work of our fathers is not completed. Our honor and safety is
in still further achievements of public justice and orderly freedom, and
to the advancement of the common welfare. Our mission is a continuous
and steady development of conscientiousness, a moral and religious
growth, keeping pace with advancing intelligence, science and liberty.
We attain to it by those common virtues which our fathers exercised:
honesty, frugality, integrity and unfaltering devotion to duty. We need
but follow the old plain paths, and, undazzled by the superficial
glitter and pretentious show of ambitious self-seekers, march steadily
forward to the attainments of a trained and vigorous virtue, to purity,
strength and solidity. Thus will we keep unsoiled our inheritance, and
transmit it, beautified and glorified, to those who come after us.
"We have seen the forest fall before the strong arm of the pioneer; we
have seen the shores lined with masts, and the waters white with sails;
we have seen the triumphs of restless, cunning labor; but not in
physical power nor in populous cities, not in factories nor palaces, nor
richly laden fleets, are the elements of natural greatness, nor its
safety, but in the courage, integrity, self-denial and temperance of the
people, and the spirit of mental enterprise and moral freedom which
inspires them."
But the reputation of Mr. Crapo in Massachusetts and the country at
large rests preeminently upon his services in the National House of
Representatives. He was elected to fill a vacancy in the Forty-fourth
Congress and was returned at three successive elections, enjoying to an
unusual degree the favor and approbation of his constituents. In the
Forty-fifth Congress he was a member of the committee on Foreign
Affairs. In the Forty-sixth he served on the committee on Banking and
Currency, and was chairman of this important committee in the next
Congress. He introduced the bill to extend the charters of the National
Banks, and by his skillful and persistent efforts the bill became a law
to the satisfaction of all sound business men. In his connection with
this bill, Mr. Crapo added to his reputation as an able lawyer, that of
a sound financier and a judicious statesman.
Representing a constituency whose interests are largely identified with
the fishing industries, Mr. Crapo has naturally been considered a
champion of the fishermen. A strong speech was made by him on the
resolution recommending the abrogation of the fishing articles of the
Treaty of Washington, of which the following is an example:--
"For seventy years this Government, and prior to that the Colonies, paid
liberal bounties to aid the development and increase of our fishing
marine. These bounties have been abandoned, and the New England
fishermen, relying upon their energy and enterprise do not ask a renewal
of them. But they do ask that the United States shall not offer a bounty
to build up this industry in the hands of rivals. When we are confronted
with a declining merchant marine, when the carrying trade is passing
into the hands of foreigners, when we remember that our whaling fleet,
which twenty years ago numbered 600 ships with 18,000 sailors, the best
sailors on the globe, disciplined and educated in voyages of three and
four year's duration--is now reduced to 163 vessels with less than 5,000
men, we may well inquire, where are we to look for experienced seamen to
man our navy in case of foreign war? We can build vessels of war in a
few weeks when the emergency arises. With our resources of timber, and
iron and copper, and every material entering into the construction of
our vessels, we can build ships at short notice in our private
shipyards, even if we cannot in our navy yards, but efficient and hardy
sailors come only from the training and experience of years of toil and
danger upon the sea."
This brief extract illustrates Mr. Crapo's logical, direct method of
making an argument. When occasion presents itself, he is capable of
rising to heights of eloquence equalled by few who sit in the National
Capitol. The following passage is from a brief speech occasioned by the
presentation to the United States, April 22, 1880, of Thomas Jefferson's
writing desk on which was written the original draft of the Declaration
of Independence. Mr. Crapo offered a joint resolution of acceptance and
in closing his eloquent remarks said:--
What memories crowd upon us with the mention of these names.
Washington, the soldier, whose sword was drawn for the independence of
his country; Franklin, the philosopher, the benefactor of his race, who
with simple maxims pointed out the road to wealth and who disarmed the
lightning and the thunderbolt; Jefferson, the accomplished and
enthusiastic scholar, whose marvelous genius and masterly pen gave form
to that immortal paper which proclaimed liberty to all mankind. These
are names never to be forgotten. These men were the founders of the
Republic. Their name and fame are secure, and in the centuries which are
to follow will be treasured by a grateful and loving people among their
choicest possessions. Mr. Speaker, the nation gladly accepts and will
sacredly keep this invaluable relic. The article itself may be
inconsiderable, but with this simple desk we associate a grand
achievement. Upon it was written the great charter of civil liberty,
the Declaration of American Independence. We pay to the heroic hand
who signed that wager of battle the honors which are paid to the
heroes of the battlefield. It was not valor alone which secured to us
self-government. The leaders in the revolt against the tyranny and the
established institutions of the old world had courage of opinion and
were full of mature wisdom and incorruptible patriotism. The men who
signed the paper pledging their lives, their fortunes and their sacred
honor in support of the Declaration, and who made their fearless appeal
to God and the world in behalf of the rights of mankind, were both
lion-hearted and noble-minded.
Upon this desk was written in words as pure and true as the word of
inspiration that document which opened up 'a new era in the history
of the civilized world.' Its fit resting place is with the nation's
choicest treasures. It is a precious memorial of Jefferson, more
eloquent and suggestive than any statue of marble or bronze which may
commemorate his deeds. In accepting it in the name of the nation we
recognize the elevated private character, the eminent virtue, the
profound knowledge, the lofty statesmanship, and the sincere patriotism
of Jefferson, and we honor him as the father of popular government and
as the great apostle of liberty.
To the pledge of safe custody with which we accept this gift, we join
the solemn promise that with still greater fidelity we will guard the
inheritance of free institutions which has come to us through the valor
of Washington and the wisdom of Jefferson, and that we will faithfully
transmit, undimmed and unbroken, their richest legacies--"Liberty and the
Union."
At the Republican State Convention held in Worcester, September 21,
1881, Congressman Crapo was chosen president, and made an address which
was regarded as a splendid defence of the Republican Party. In its
course he said:
"No occupation is more honorable than the public service. The desire to
engage in it is a worthy one. The ambition to hold and properly
discharge the duties of a position under the government is creditable to
the citizen. The public offices in this country should be as freely open
to all as are places in other vocations of life. No man should be
debarred by birth, or locality, or race, or religious, or political
belief from engaging in the public service. To deserve this he should
not be required to render partisan service or personal allegiance to any
party leader, nor be compelled to purchase the favor or patronage of any
public official. The public offices are a public trust, to be held and
administered with the same exact justice and the same conscientious
regard for the responsibilities involved as are required in the
execution of private trusts. The test for appointments should be
superior qualifications, and not partisan attachment nor partisan
service; continuance in office should depend upon real merit
demonstrated in the actual performance of duties and not upon the
urgency of Congressmen or petitions of other citizens."
Of Mr. Crapo it may justly be said that on every occasion of life in
which he has been called upon for any duty, he has always risen adequate
to the occasion, and even exceeded in his efforts the most sanguine
expectations of his friends. He has much of that reserve power which
does not manifest itself until it is wanted, and then the supply is
equal to the demand.
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