Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-05-15


a. failure "a appropriate f0r lis
continuance, thus accomplishing 2
suicide, TeDUGiatiOH, and an
insult 20 the President. AS 10 the
future, the reform is defeated Temporal
rily, but 70, alec, are its Oppnsers. We
cannot continue the spOIls. The system
Of reform will make its power felt again /;
the Influence viii last and permest5.
This victory will not be an immediate
nor radical reform when 10 begins again.
1t must be more restricted; il must not
attempt too much. There need be no
discOuTagemsnt;t the people are with Us;
our principles are sound. We can say
OF them as President Lincoln said Of
those whom he urged against slavery in
1856: These prime pies Of ours are vital; /;
they will ultimately win, and they will
endure when you and l are gone.
The reading Of this paper was followed
by animated debate, participated in
by Gsmaliel Bradford, Elizur Wright,
and others, who took somewhat differ
ent grounds.
Prof. c. a Kent then read paper on
political parties, their organization and
management, and the evils thereof Po-
litical parties are, the professor says, a
necessity OF the age, snd are fully de-
veloped in free countries. Through them
come reforms, but since the profession
OF reforms is easy and will be made alike
by all parties, il is impossible that any
/ party can hold together on one reform
basis for a3y length Of time. Rarely can
3 man or ne sp8per hold alOOf from
! party and have much influence. Direct
! influence on governmental action is on
/ ly obtained by party ties. A leader
/ must not step outside bis hearth; if he
/ DOES, influence and leadership desert
! him. Intelligent members OF p party
! usually prize il only ss q means of carry
| ing out their political ideas, but their
number is few. The professor describes
/ the pautisan ends which are sought
| by the adherents OF party,
/ whether dominant or in the minority.
/ The ideal after which a party should
/ strive is 10 put It's b=st and wisest men
at the head, that when in power it may
! be tested under the most favorable cir
! cumstanCes. Among the chief defects
10 the management OF parties is. first,
the great excess Of paTty pTejudices
manifested in ultra views and state
ments Of the most Intelligent men. For
this defect there seems no remedy, eX-
cept gradual education to better ways.
Second, the patronage Of the govern
ment which grows out Of desire OF
party managers to make their sdherents
Jealous. In.s most COUUpting and
greatest Of all defects caused it to be
packed. ! makes Hobbies, and raises
money for cOrrUptiug and bTibing voters.
To provide au effsC.ual remedy for this
is extremely difficult, but a remedy
might be found IN q rule prescribing
that executive appointments be made
for a definite and somewhat more
lengthy period, expiring at times re-
mote from executive elections, and
by requiriOg qualifications, including
character ana experience. Official
salaries should be reduced, and made
only large enough TO attract suitable
men. Third, the growing difficulty of
getting competent men to become can
didates for office. One reason for this !
difficulty is The small salary paid some
important officers. This is hard to REM
edy. Another reason is the service that |
is required OF a candidate in the canvass, |
together with the drain on his purse for
the purpose OF Influencing votes. THIS |
is thing hIgh-minded men will not |
submit to- aud without it election is al |
most impOssible; hence. poor or honest |
men cannot secure office, and they Te- |
main 8 prey Of the rich and unscTupu- |
IOus. The sacred duty of good citizens |
in these premises is to take a deeper in |
terest in politics. Teachers should en- |
force this and preachers preach it, how |
ever distasteful. Let every citizen be- !
long to some party, and strive to purify |
it by attending the primaries and by |
defeating unworthy nominations. Per- |
fectiOn is impossible, but by such means |
as those suggested much will be gained, |
and the world will be benefited.
81 I T. L "
Wells, Of Detroit, discussed this paper |
briefly. Mr.. Bradford called attention |
to the fact that little q Inference exists |
between the platforms of the Republi- |
can and Democratic parties. The qUes-
tions now are rather Of detail, and de-
mand men Of great power, who shall,
by individual force, shape legislation.
This closed the exercises Of the local le-
gal department Of the general meeting.
A paper was read by William @. Ham
mOnd, of Iowa, on legal education and
the study Of jurisprudence in the west
and northwest. Mr.. Hammond said, in
substance, that the jurisprudence of the
northwest differs little from that of
other sections of the Union. Western
States differ from others, however, in
that they have remarkably simple real
estate titles, uninfested with feudal doc
trines. They are free from ancient and
rigid forms and constructions Of law.
Nowadays the great object Of the legal
instructor is not to prevent student
from becoming technical, narrow-mind-
ed and quibbling, and which was for
merly the fault, but to restrain him
from loose, inaccurate methods Of
thought. The bar Of the western States
is an unOTganized body, without fixed
I
legal training. Mi. Hammond here
shows the difficulty which law students
experience in attempting to read and
practice law in any but the largest
offices. They must retain by sheer force
of memory what they read from text
books. This difficulty has originated
the law schools, which are now rapidly
advancing 10 public favor. 1t is the
habit of study acquired in schools that
makes the scholar more apt and worthy !
than is he who studies in the law office.
A student who makes practical skill the
first object, begins stthe wrong end. He
must begin by studying the theory. Even
If the school teaches only a theory,
this does not prove the other method
more useful. Practice must come piece
meal. At the best, however, in prep
erly managed school Of law, the prscti-
cal part is by no means neglected, and
such schools are becoming more numer-
Gus, but much is TO be added to their
present curriculum before they can be
perfect. They must have the entire at
tentiOn Of the teachers A busy lawyer
or judge cannot do justice to q course Of
lectures in a school. His most valuable
instruction may only embarass the pu-
piI. There should be a considerable dlvi-
sion OF the labor. One professor should
have but few topics, as is the case In
Germany. The range Of studies might
be greatly enlarged, and with profit, es-
pecially since a large proportion OF law
students have no previous collegiate ed
ucRtion. The rule Of admitting only
college graduates to legal institutions
is visionary. In every law school there
should be classes in English and Ameri-
can history, logic, rhetoric and political
economy Indeed, in all branches Of
social science even Latin might be add
ed. These are merely 3 few OF the most
important suggestions OF many that will
occur TO anybody who will think on the
subject. Mr.. Hammond here quoted
from remarks made by President Wool
sey, OF Yale college, who advocates an
extensive educational policy in Law
schools. These must, however, net be
allowed TO shade theresl intention; they
must be entirely subsidiary. The stu.
dent ghguId not atTpmDt 10 mem0riZa I