Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-11-18
The Science of Law.


THIS term II often used vagu y.
Scio ce implies known certainty, and
is founded upon the orderly
End fixed constitution Of things.
Facts never happier. They come
10 pass according TO law. There
is both sequence Add con sequence.
Hence, certain things being given,
certain other ord very different
thirgs may Ue inferred. Is there,
hen, a science of l4w-that is, of
municipal ltw-lbe law administers ]
in courts OF justice
In despotsm there is none There
the claws measure j. the Kings
pleasure" and that leasure IS as
variable as his moods. In a civilz ed
country there is an ideal certainty.
A gwen course Of conduct brings
with il foreordained consequences.
The thief knows that he Will be
indicted, tried by jury, convicted,
senterced and punished. The man
W ho fails to pay note when due
knows that he will be sued, that
Judgment will be entered against
him, and his property sold in pre-
scribed way, and the debt paid, etc.
There is. we say, an ideal certainty
about it, for in the actual admins
tration of justice by men there are
many neglects and failures. This is
not the fault Of the law, but OF the
means Of its execution. Law, as a
science, takes no tote of fear or
favor. darkness or weakness These
often intervene and defeat the ends
proposed. But the law stands as a
science, nevertheless
The lawyer can foretell what vii,
what must, come 20 pass under
specified conditions, as the astrono-
mer predicts the eclipse. There is
this difference. however; in the one
case the law is perfect and therefore
never repealed or modified; in the
other it only approximates to per-
lection, and is therefore subject to a
change In the one case the law 10
unfailingly executed; in the other
there is all that imperfection which
belongs 10 human conduct generally
And vet most Of our laws are staple
and we'll executed There is, there
fore, not only perfect IDEAL science
Of law, but an actual science, which
approximates toward perfection.
Science Of every ind starts out
With certain elementary selt-evident
principals. From these, and depend
ing upon them, it proceeds TO others
less Obvious and more complicated !.
Law, as an aggregation of rules, is
thus system of related parts resting
on a common and solid basis of prin-
ciples. La this point of view, also,
there is propriety in the expression,
science OF law.
II is nOtvery uncommon nowadays
for gen lemen Of intellectual taste s
to devote time 10 the study of some
science, or, perhaps, 10 the sciences.
so as to be able te understcni some
what the workings OF nature. Let
q botanist take the trip OF the lakes,
and he will derive vastly more infor-
nation and pleasure tberetorm than
his companion, who may be every
way his equal, except in knowledge
of the science of Vegetation So ia
/ law, great and vital questions, in-
volving legal principles, methods
precedeDts and reforms ale centinu'
ally coming up in ways to attract
general attention. In proposition a
knowledge OF law, 50 far as 1t is ,
science, is possessed by the more
intelligent and nou-professional pub
lie, these questions would be better
understood and popular opinion
would less frequently make prepos
ferrous political and economic de
mands. For this reason, especially
il is desirable that the study OF Law
should not be confined by any meaDi
to those who intend to pursue it as
business, but should be regarded as
necessary. or at least vdry deslra
bic, part of q geHtlenan's education