The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-23
THE REFORM OF THE BAR.
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The organization of reform association
by the members of the legal profession in
this city was a sufficient acknowledgment of
the corruption of the New York bar, were no
other evidence at hand. Unfortunately, the
profession is not in good repute. 1t is true
we hear more frequently of corrupt judges
than of knavish counselors, but this is rather
the result of the greater responsibility and
consequent notoriety of the former. Judges
and lawyers are parts of the machinery of
law. While the judge guides and directs, the
lawyer supplies the motive power, and the
harmonious action of both is necessary to
insure practical legal success. Judges can
act only on the cases brought before them;
and as no dishonest practitioner can hope
to have his action approved by an honest
judge, so the most honest counselor can see
all his labors rendered useless by the de-
cision of some corrupt justice. But no Judge
can from month to month and from year to
year, defy all law, all justice, unless sus-
tanned by some equally corrupt practitioner
below him. There is power in right which
can only be subdued by the willing conni-
vance of those.in whose hands lies. Ar cleo
tive judiciary elevates the demagogue to the
bench whenever party is stronger than prin-
ciple; but if the bench be unworthily filled
the purity of the bar can prevent at least open
corruption.
The legal profession of this city comprises
all classes, from the faithful advocate of sim
pie justice to the Tonbs s'shyster' who
divides greenback with the first unfortu-
nate panel thief. The quack physician may
succeed for time; the hypocritical divine
finds short-lived protection under his sur
plice; but the dishonest lawyer, cloaked with
little rhetoric, gilded with little brass, and
pulled up with smattering of law, may give
employment to raseally judge all his days.
Our legal machinery is more complicated than
the uninitiated will believe. One practitioner,
Tor instance, boldly advertises that he will
procure divorces on the most accommodating
terms, which means that he will set up the
grounds OF complaint, as circumstances shall
dictate; that he will write out the evidence
which is to substantiate those grounds. and
subpoena the witnesses who will swear to it.
For we have in our midst professional wit
nesses who can be hired to give, under oath.
any testimony laid out for them. Another
practitioner, whose gilded sign NAV adorn
the front OF any marble palace of business
street, acts as his own detective, and. mixing
with business men, hears of some ASSIGNMENT
gets the names of certain creditors, and case
of involuntary bankruptcy follows. These, it
is true, are the dregs of the profession. but
the upward grade is very gradual one. An
association of the members of the profession
banded together to purify their calling can
and will effect much good; but prevention is
better than cure, and we must look. there
fore, to more guarded door of entrance if
we expect a real reform. To-day any man
with ready wit, glib tongue, and a raonth's s
study can be enrolled and with proper Gin
Auence" even these qualifications NAV be
dispensed with. Columbia College Law School
is allowed to give diplomas, admitting to the
| bar, TO those only who have pursued its
course of study, under a learned professor.
! for two years. Yet these same students can,