Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-01-28

ing the true end Of a profession, so honor
able, and at the same time so neeGful."
In the Austin case, ) Rawle 191, Judge
Gibson said: "Attorneys have Il deep
stake in the character Of their profession,
and they are vitality concerned in prevent
ing it from being sullied by the miscon
duct of unworthy members
Self protection ought to be sufficient,
active motive to impel the bar to guard
we'll the gateways to tho profession, and
to provide when necessary means Of exit.
1t is not correct speaking to say that the
bar is not in any sense responsible for the
character Of the persons admitted to prac-
tice, and ':Member of the Bar commenced
in the wrong place to make lawyer. He
forgot that the judges whom he thinks are
the makers Of lawyers are themselves the
creation of the bar. Every judge was a
lawyer before he became a judge, and they
owe their fitness for the bench largely to
the training, which the bar gave them.
The calibre Of the judge depends upon the
calibrc of the bar from which he came A
learned and honorable bar will have a
learned and upright court, while u
bar loose in its morals, careless
of its own protection, and reckless of its
own honor and purity, will most likely,
practice before court of the same inferior
character. The rules which ordinarily
govern admissions to tho bar, though ad-
opted by the court, arc as often the sug.es-
ton of the bar as the creation of the
court. The last rule adopted by our own
court upon that subject was in pursuance
of a resolution of the bar. and doubtless,
if it We're necessary, the united action of
the bar would change all existing rules
touching the subject of admission.
The character OF the court, the charac
ter of its rules, and the character of the
persons admitted to practice, in the last
analysis of the question, depend upon the
character of the bar. How transcend
emily important then is it for them to pre-
serve their elevated tone, spotless purity
and commanding position. They hold the
power of exclusion and are therefore
Justly held responsible for those who enter
tho charmed circle.
But We have said more than enough to
show the unsoundness of the views we are
combating. Enough to show how ten
aciously the bar, with few exceptions, hold
to the true life-saviug principles which
have in the past. moulded the conduct of
the profession, and enough we trust to
make Member of the Bar realize that
he does vain thing who lifts his voice
against the rooted convictions of the
noblest profession among men.
1t is too apparent to need to be men-
toned that the bar will cease to be learn.
ed and honorable body the moment ii
ceases to care what quality Of men assume
the character, and exercise the privileges
of the profession. Courts will cease to be
the tribunals wherein justice is judicially
administered, when the bar ceases to act
with all good fidelity to the bench.
While Aaron and Hur, held up the arms
of Moses on Horeb, victory followed the
children of Israel. 50 while the bar hold
up the arms Of the judges the rod Of JUS
tice will not fall, but when they faltcr, and
withdraw that faithful support contem-
plated IN their oath Of Office, the sun will
set forever on the justice of the country.
Let it he understood that the views ell
tertaincd on this subject by the Lancaster
bar are that the court in which they prac-
tice and of which they arc sworn officers,
is pure, upright and able, and that they
intend to keep it so by keeping themselves
tho fountain from which the judges
flow-pure and upright. That, though
all of them have not had tho highest scho-
lastic training, nevertheless they arc a
body of learned, honorable and pure men,
associated in the pursuit Of profession
which exacts the highest fidelity to truth
and justice. That the character of the bar is
so c!evated-and should be kept so clevs-
ted-that to be a member Of it is a passport
to the confidence and respect of the public.
That recognizing the fact that unworthy
people may occasionally gain admission to
the society of honorable mon and to the
privileges of a noble profession, they hold
unaltcrably to the principle that every
member of tho bar holds his office by the
tenure of honorable conduct, and that a
forfeiture of his claim to the confidence of
the court, the bar and the public, by mis-
behavior, works forfeiture Of his office.
That this standard of fidelity has been
recognized, in the past, is insisted upon
now, and will in the future be uncom-
promisingly adhered to. The lawyer who
incuieates sentiments less elevated than
these, or acquiesces in a rule OF duty less
exacting, OF standard of fidelity less Sc
we're, unwittingly wrongs the profession
by opening the way for 4 deg eneracy in
the tone of the bar, into which, thanks to
the prevalence of the views we have en-
deavored to maintain, it has not yet
fallen.
4 MEMBER OF THE LANCASTER BAR.
PERSONAL.
The widow of General JEFFERSON c.