New-York tribune., 1875-10-09
THE 1Ar4YETrE COLLEGE Law SCHOOL,

OPENING OF THE sCHoOL-ADDEEss OF TIE HON.
w. S. KIRKPATRICK.
fFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or rHE rRiBUSEl
EAsToN Penn, Oct. 6.-Thc Law Depart
ment of Lafayette College, situated in this place was
formally opened yesterday. The Hon. s. kirkpatrick,
Dean of tho new department. delivered brief address
on the study OF law in Pardee Hail. before large audf
euce In closing his address he said:
We have abandoned the unsatisfactory theory OF com,
pact between sovereign and people which the En2isn M
statesman ann lawyer rear ~ I os ~ - ,r ,s,,Scs
only resort in extreme lohcai eAgsices ior rs @
ton revolution under the maine ana sanction oI law
BY the ballot under appointed forms OF law we sehIy
ana peacefully achieve radical revolutions N day. by
the operation and influence OF pubic OPINION
mold and shape our legislation with plastic power
In harmony with that tendency in the progress and I'M
being simplifed and slowly approaches the region OF
conscience and moral duty. Notwithstanding our al
tion and administration of Law, we have much
to excise, much to improve, many peris, to
ening eSH,n around us. and bewIder US with their
importunity for solution. That very public opinion
legislation, unless modified and regulated by gh moral
purpose and character may YET degenerate mo mere
under the influence of communstic hcreses into an
overlcaping flood overwhelming and sweeping away in
lts tide statute and code and court crowd
ing upon the field are great corporations Mho'
too 0cn s IN anG nG soy the S eber WORKS and efforts
the weak and throttle our courts and legislatures 10
deal with this shadowy OF genie To make them the
tractable servants OF civilization instead of IFS mas
tcIs and tyrans will summon forth all the resources and
energies OF the legislator ana iurs Industry and pri
thrift are plundered under the form OF Doll and
greedy taxation Fraud and trckcry in thousand pro.
team forms glide through the pathways OF commerce.
speculaon and gambling prostitute the consccnca, and
the fearful apparitiOn OF reputation aEl naiohh as
honor begins 70 rise Iwil not speak OF the press.
which in tao absence OF Restraint and Censorship
Eas grown to "a strength which delcs control.
How important then, that science which deals with
these subtle and gperyadng forces which coordnatcs
the complex motives and activities Ot men hVnS ia
high stnte of onlighenin nj, with all the instruments
and Appliances of developed skill ingenuity, which
arr,Scs and y ystenatz under the imnu.a able end un-
yaryig forms Of Justice and moral truth the principles
and rules Of human conduct and action, without which
man tust revert his original state OF bepes ncss aut
mental and moral t0rpOr How necessary that its truths
aud preceps should be open to all, and that II be no
ger ina cce,Slbie mystery! In lis age ana In THIS
land no culture he complete, no man can be fily
equipped ana prepared for lis social and political lilo
whether he be jurist, legislator on cluZcn without GD
intelligent understanding of the leading principles OF
that science which most precious posSes
sions and which leads IN lis rau tributaries tue whoe
company OF human knowledge
The Law Department began active work at 10 a. m.
Yesterday in the Law School building in Hay3court.
Cenire-square There were 10 studonts.