The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-01-16
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PROFESSIONAL HONOR.

1t is high time that the SacrednesS OF
professional confidence, so Tar as lobby
lawyers are concerned, were utterly
"busted," and sent over to the limbo Of
all stupidites and humbugs. Irwin is
lawyer. He styles himself the Attorney
of the Pacific Mail Company. AS such
attorney he leads>a lobby with million
of dollars for procuring an additional
subsidy Of $5O0,000 a year for ten years.
This looks like wholesale bribery, and
the pressure of public sentiment de-
mands of Congress an inquiry into it.
This Attorney Irwin swears to the
amount of money with which he filed
tire very air OF Washington, but refuses
to give the names of his fortunate bene-
ticiaries-refuses on the ground OF be-
traying professional confidence. The
rascal thinks, and grave counsellors en-
courage him in believing, that his pro-
fessional character can cover up his
public villainicsl And there are lawyers
who, instead of laughing at this impudent
assumption, seem to consider the ques-
ton as one of solemn impoitl Con-
rressluau Parsons is favOrite
of the subsidy jobbers, but all the time
he is acting as attorney, and the money
he receives is only in the way of proies-
sional business. Garfield is also IA
vorite with this class of patriots, and 10,
| while everybody thought he was a min-
lister of the gospel, he turns up as an at
torney, and the money he receives is ex-
clusively for professional services and
in no way calculated to influence his
vote in the Housed Other members Of
the House and several Senators are also
attorneys for the rings who are eterhall,
seeking to swindle the people.
Attorney Irwin is succeeded by Attor'
new Schumacher, a Congressman, wht
tes. .ites to breaking up $4,000 int
small checks for circulation where the.
would do the most good; but he alst
shelters his friends behind the sanetit!
of professional honor, and refuses to tel
to whom the checks were given! Ill
tells Dawes that ''as n lawyer he ough
to know better than to ask such ques
tions!' He is determined 10 maintain
his professional honor and stand erect
So that he can look his brother lawyer
in the face and challenge their respec
, for his professional character!
We submit to any decent iawye
s whether professional honor was mtenf
ed to shield unmitigated and high-hande
# rascality? We never SO understood
i AS far as private clients who have
/ relation to public affairs, are concerned
9 professional honor is well enough; bt
g as to the employment of shyster lawyer
y in public yillainy because of the shield
}. professional honor, it is time this profe
u sional disgrace were treated as II Il
a serves. ,.,, =,
e Formerly in prosecutions for libel Il
. truth Of the charges could not pc give
i in testimony, and the legal maxim WI
v .sthe greater the truth the greatef tne
,, , bel" In course OF time disuncu'
= was made between libels OF private al
~ Iibels of public character, anu y
!, truth WAS admissible III all. cases IN
~ concerned the public interest. we
lieve that now the maxim III az cases
q .sthe greater the truth the less tne liDei
tol There must he distinction DetWe'
!, public and private matters IN respect
professional honor; aud no one VINO
e. brought rs u witness before an inVes
in eating committee should be prOiessionu
ly recognized.