New-York tribune., 1877-06-28

OF those bunders which had become agitafed ana 'nnt
lesson OF history would have no appeacn IN our our
euces of human nature this very blunder was one
of those we most faithfully copied at the close OF our ow
civil war look for the prayers OF the age no
in the exemption from chronic fges but in the mild
form OF the attack and the speed OF our recovery "a
and reported to the Legislature the test oaths had
proved IAN utter failure as means OF ,hargh
with tenacious faith in exploded doctrines the lpos
on Of the test had been embodied In the sa'e
tion adopted only two years before -, u
As to our national legislation, the remnant 1i our our
proscrptye measures which sun Exists g nn nr Persia
believe seriously In our attachment 10 "hut s VIZ
mas oath sut we Administer it only TO those
who we know take 1t without danger 10 ther con,
scieneesl We impose the hoopo theT can
upon duties Of public Office but the ,e
n man had been out IN over fory 7nSe, lmheuiae''
secures the privilege OF exemption.
COMFORTING REFLECTIONS.
We have however, real and great reasons for con-
grntuaons that considering the magnitude and desper
ate character Of the OF the rebellion, ana the
remarkable difficulty OF the problems 1t left u.s. 'he
moderation OF our people their fnthfulness to true
repnbicanisin have to desire The pracca
conduct OF the peoPe mas genery d peeh y, Ieuch NJ
that OF their legislation, and we can AFFORD 10 hcr anr
some absurdIties in our statutes when we rememoea
that there has been necessity 1Or sironf
central government TO hold back conqneflng anu
excited populace from cruel reyenGes or Dioouy
scrptons IL is no small for satisfaction tnst We
are able with truth that this last ana lhost
ONLY confirmed the opinion of Stuart MILL OF bfOle az"
OF Freeman. that popular eoyornment Is sueh an %
Gator OF fhe reoilc themselves. that their rule is i'I
moro humane and liberal to those in their power than
any other form of rule. F.. T.. oo,
But ull recognition OF this comforting act II CON
sistent aso with desire TO learn more peiItcy e
lessons taught by experience AND with feeling an hone
Or de IN working 2ea0usly to mako our practices any
our institutions accord nearly with Our iuea W
vlat popular government should he. AtAouSh u
might seem therefore, if il were rather la1e 10 I'm
ND the historical lessons which we nave ltEiectcu vi
msTead il should De remembered tiat the lihie lo' IA
ing deeply the practical teachings Oi experience Is gen
erallv that Priod OF sober reflection when the bhlhs
and inseaGing passions of fierce strife arc past ihu
when the wisesi coolest must generally auniit .i
anger makes fools Of men in some way oi oiheT'
Gen Cox closed with few remarks addressed directly
10 the law students in which he reminded thoin that tLe
history of the American people Is the history OF ther
Constitution; that the fundamental law of the iahu '
dergoes changes both OF fern and interpretation III
such convulsiye epochs and that consequently the hte
ectual furnishing Of "A lawyer viii be sadly deficient
even in what may be regarded "A strictly PROFESSIONAL
II he fails 30 give careful sudy 10 the course OF events
which xes the spirit Of the laws and determines the line
OF progress or It's opposite.