New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-05

Powers for the purpose of enforcing interna-
tional obligations, the progress of mankind is
unquestlonably in that direction. In any
given the outcome of the decision of u
tribunal would be more likely to serve all true
national interests far better than chat Of the
chance OF war, and we may expect tribunals to
take the place of great armies as soon as race
feelings and antiquities and national pride are
so far modified that each nation will see that its
highest interests are in the satisfaction of JUS
tce.
In relation to reform in the sphere of our
own public law, Justice Matthews proposes two
things. First, he would have our naturaliza-
ton laws revised so that foreigners could not
become entitled to the privileges of a double
citizenship without the responsibilities Of
either, and make their domicle in the United
States in order to promote resurrection in for
eign country from distant and safe base
The asylum of neutral territory provided
against political persecution should not, he
forcbly insists, be desecrated by becoming the
harbor for murderers and assassins His
second point is that the Nation and each State
in it should be willing to do justice in the
peaceable course of law, and TO be sued by in
diyidua citizens. The Supreme Court has de-
cded that the maxim that the king can do no
wrong" as applicable to our Government or
any OF It's officers has no place in our cOnstitu-
tonal system yet according to an eminent
Jurlst, the notifying fact is judicially estab-
" lished that the Government of the United
Estates holds itself of nearly all Governments
" the least amenable to the law" In the estab-
lishment Of the Court of Claims the United
States has taken an important step in the direc-
ton of holding itself respon sibe to its citizens
in matters such as the approx ration of private
property and the failure Of its officers to fulfil
contracts. Just how far it INakcs itself in this
tribunal amenable to the prll ciples of Justice
which are made binding upon it's citizens by
common and statute law, is not q, nerally known
to the public, and we could have wished
clearer explanation from Mr.. Matthew'S He
tells us little more than that its example i'm
maintaining the Court Of Claims ought to find
imitation on the part of the State Governments,
many of which refuse to pay portion of their
debts.
Passing ut the close of his address to social
and political questions not yet fully defined but
Of momentous Importance, which must soon
emerge into the sphere Of the expanding law.
Mr.. Matthews briefly mentions the regulation
of transportation by common carriers for the
protection of the public against unjust discrmi-
nations; the question of monopolies, involving
the problcm of making associated capital mosr
efficient tor good with the least power of mis-
chief; how the power of unlimited combination
can be recOncicd with that of unlimited COM
petition, and the advantages of both be re-
famed; and the fundamental question of the
true economic relations between the three clc-
ments which enter into productlon-labor skill
and capital \ full discussion OF these interest
lng themes from thoughtful mind as that
OF the junior member of the Supreme Court
would be OF great interest, but we ere Obliged
to content ourselves with the suggestion that
the science of political economy will discover
rules Of justice founded in the nature of things
to determine the share of produce to which each
agent OF pre- dncti0n Is entitled, and that some
voluntary organization of productive industry
Will furnish the machinery for the application
of such rules. Then, Mr. Matthews thinks |
Jurisprudence will be ready to incorporate these
methods and instruments into systems of law |
The general tenor of the address, we should |
perhaps have said before goes to show that law
Is u progressive profession, growing in mpor-
lance as clvlliZati III becomes more complex and |
constantly applying the fundamental principles |
OF justice to the new and changing conditions
OF human society.