Something of the position which Judge Curran occupied in public
regard is indicated in works written of him ere his demise, which
occurred on October 1, 1909. Morgan in his volume of Canadian
Men and Women said, “by the Irish community of Montreal he was
regarded as one who had stood the test of devotion to their
common fatherland, but it is to Canada that he has given his
best service and by his fellow-Canadians, without distinction of
origin or creed, he is held in the highest esteem and honor.”
A Montreal citizen wrote of him, “he bears a character without
reproach and is as popular in legal and political circles as
he is respected.” The Montreal Gazette said editorially, “no
constituency in Canada has ever had a representative who gave up
more of his time, his talent and his energy to the promotion of
its interests than did Mr. Curran during the thirteen years he
has enjoyed the confidence of his electors. His genial kindly
nature, his large-heartedness, his conspicuous liberality
of mind, absolutely free from every trace of bigotry, and
his splendid oratorical powers caused him to be in constant
requisition whenever men were gathered together in the promotion
of worthy objects for the discussion of public affairs or the
advancement of the material and social welfare of the country.”
The Montreal Herald concluded an admirable eulogy with the
following paragraph: “Unselfishness and genuine consideration
for others, probably explained his personal popularity and his
political success. He used to say that the man in public life
erred in dodging office seekers. ‘When I saw one who looked as if
he wanted to get at me I always went to him first, and gave him
his chance to speak,’ he once explained. He gave freely of his
presence where he thought a good cause could be served, or a good
example be set. He did his duty, as he saw it, without flinching.
He was a good citizen, and he leaves a name to be held in honor.”
PIERRE-CHRYSOLOGUE LACASSE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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