, 1879-05-25


better and purer civilization?"
1t will be seen that the writer in th
louisville paper holds the uncultivated b
OF that State responsible for the wretche
civilization now prevailing, and to which
due the varied evils which beset society. 1
this be true in Kentucky, why is it not ais
true IN other States? Here is, however
even stronger presentation Of the situation
Ihe same paper says: ....-..,,..,- .>..
- sneer has driven polite scholarship and I
love or letters from the Bench and Bar of the Sat
as incompatible with true manliness OF character
OF as Indicative Of a lack Of practical common
SENSE Wanting the refinement and true ma1n
ness and sense OF dlgnided propriety, us we'll a
tnat powerful moral restraint in private life which
1ney always produce, and those broad, healthful,
independent Views Of public affairs which they al
ways generate. the decadence Of the Bar has made
'lseH 1elt IN all the walks OF life and among al
classes in the Commonwealth. The rules Of the
poker-room have become the tests OF honor and Of
honesty among her gentlemen, and Of gentleman
hooo among her citizens, and skill at their favorite
pastlme the highest culture to which either lawyer
or citizen cares to aspire."
Are the Bar and the Bench Of Kentucky any
lower in the scale of intelligence, education,
and morality than the Bar in other States
Have all the cultivated lawyers Of Kentucky
removed to Chicago and to other: cities
where there is a higher civilization, and
where even the lack of culture in other pro-
feasions is publicly reprobated from the
Bench2 Are not the criticisms on the Ken
tucky Bar, if just at all, also largely applica-
BILE to the Bar in adjoining states2 A cit
lzeu Of Kentucky, familiar with the Bar Of
that State as represented in the paragraphs
We have quoted, visiting Springfield at any
time during the last five months, would be
forced to admit that in our Legislature, COM
posed of lawyers, e1-Judges, and aspirants
Tor Judicial Office, he could distinguish no
superiority in refinement, scholarship, or ill.,
dependence Of views over the same class of
men in Kentucky. He would have found the
same general ignorance, the same into1er-
ance of opinion, which mark the lack Of cul-
t'7at1on, and the same low rules governing
the test Of honor among gentlemen. We &C.
lect the Legislature foran illustration, because
that body aggregates more lawyers than are
represented by any other public organiza-
ton. How far do the proceedings of that
body give evidence of manliness, truth,
dignity, or cultivation? How far do these
men evince any consciousness that their pro-
fesslon is "b both moral and philosophical
in its nature? How far in this State, as
well as in Kentucky, have sneers driven !
polite scholarship and love Of letters from |
he Bench and Bar, as incompatible with true
nanlinoss Of character, as estimated in the !
'choois Of Western politics? How far has !
he decadonce Of the Bar in this State, as in
Kentucky, made itself felt in all the walks
# life
It is refreshing, however, to know that
here is one Judge in Illinois who app1eci-
ates culture, and who is brave enough to
ell his professional brethren how much the
rant Of cultivation destroys their usefulness,
nd how much it demoralizes their fellow
aen. There is no more appropriate place
rom which to enforce by precept and
xample the necessity and importance of
olite scholarship than the Judicial Bench. /.
n eleyating the standard of culture at the
'ar there will be corresponding elevation !
public sentiment, and in the DEVELOPMENT
manliness, Of professional pride, of fear
Rs independence, and thorough scholarship
nd refinement on the Bench and the Bar.
len, as this Louisville paper says, "the
resent order of things will give place to a
etter and purer civilization"