, 1879-05-25
CULTURE AT. THE BAR

t~AAN
ty, IN public address delivered some tin.
ago, enumerated among the other evils will
which American society was afflicted thu
iamentable want Of culture among those who
do the writing for the public press. Thu,
the want OF culture is personal loss to all
persons thus deficient, and public loss when
exhibited BY those engaged in business di.
rectly influencing, forming, and controlling
public opinion, is hardly to be doubted. The
"Rut OF culture in the newspaper profession
Is undoubtedly misfortune, but it is also q
matter to be regretted that in this country
there is no recognized standard of culture.
The learned Judge in this very instance might
probably find, owing to the great variance Of
opinion Oh the subject, others equally op-
pressed By The general want Of culture in tle
learned professions who would assert that
even he would add to the value of his official
services to the State if his culture was 1itt1e
more evident and therefore more impressive.
What is wanted is an exemplar who will ba
accepted, and by whom a1l may measure
their own deficiencies.
The Louisville .Age, literary paper of
marked ability, in recent number. in nm
article on the .'Bar Of Kentucky" adds en-
phasis to the lamentations of our Chicaoo
Judge concerning the deplorable results Of
the want Of culture in the legal profee.
sion. special consequence Of this want Of
culture is suggested, rather than stated, bv
the recent assassination Of Judge ELLIOTT. nf
the Supreme. Court Of Kentucky,-the de-
hclency existing on the part of the Judge.
and not on the part Of the assassin, We
call especial attention to this, because GENTLE
men who are seeking judioial Office at this
time ought to know that among the perils of
the judicial Office m 11ncu1tnred Judge NAV I
include the possibility Of assassination. /
Judges outside Of Chicago will take notice
that, however revolving and abhorrent was
bis murder, his loss, if indeed the nature Of
the crime is considered in Kentucky, is miti-
gated by the want Of culture and dignity On
bis part
Turning from that particular instance Of
The fruits Of m uncn}hyated Bench, the Aqe
discusses the subject generally, and it is DOS
able that some Of the deductions apply. only
o the Bar Of Kentucky. Still, those unfor-
unate Judges and members of the Bar in
ther States who lack cultivation may find
themselves described in the strong light in j
Ehlch the Kentuckians are presented Ask
ag the question whether the elective Judi
iary has demoralized and dobauehed the y
eople Of Kentucky throughout all the reIa- /
ons Of life, the writer asserts that the inde- ]
eDf7erf .Tndne hae eaozad to ox;ot -, 4hx | .
tate. Declaring that there is in the present &
'dicial system no moral element to elevate 7
I'd purify, to inyigorate and cultivate, either I
ia Bench or the Bar Of the Sate," the re- r
tion upon the lawyer had so left him that t
unambitious Of culture, he follows his y
'ble profession as trade, and is content to 8
quire only its practice, by which suit is i,
nducted from a petition to Judgment. q
neonscious that his Office is purely a SELF K
posed trust, and that his profession is c.
th moral and philosophical it its nature, he
;ognizes no duty in himself or any obIiga- e,
N TO PROFOUND schemes for its bet nj
ment' or. to lead any movement Iii
reform. Culture hes folded her volume to
mystic lore and sought other votaries. III
'accuseomed to investigation or reflection p
sept In the groove Of a judicinl decision for is
n some special case, he looks only at the er
1ace OF events as they pass before him; Sc
conscious that the murder of E111orr was eli
70 !. state Of morals and Of society for we
'en ne 1s almost solsly- and exclusively re- 10,
'ns'oae' he IS not stirred beyond resolu- CO.
! OF coincidence for his widow. When | iis]