Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-21
American institutions and Laws.

SARATOGA, n. Y, August 21.-The American Bar
association was called to order this morning at 10
O'Clock by Vice President Rufus King, OF OHIO, in
the absence OF President Parker. After the filling
OF the vacancies In the general council Hon John
+. Dillon, Of New York, delivered the annual adj
dress, his subject being the general character OF
American institutions and laws.
he declared that every nation must stand Tor,
embody and represent some great principle which
permeates vitalizes and binds it together. In our
government this principle is the absolute civil
and political equality OF all its citizens,
whose collective will, expressed by maJorities, is
the original and only source Of all political power
BY this fundamental principle we must stand or
fall. He would not discuss its SOundneSS, since the
stage OF discussion ended with us more than a
century cent ago; meanwhile the principle has stood
the test of time, overcoming fears, strengthen
ing and confirming our faith.
He pointed out the vast extent and rapid develop
ment OF the country, with population exceeding
5O0Co,OoO, occupying thirty Eight states and nine
territories, reaching from ocean to ocean. He de-
MED with emphasis that our institutions had either
failed OF success or that their workings were IN
satisfactory. He alluded to the great and complex
problems which confront the American lawyer,
arising out OF the laws and legal institutions OF
nation OF such vast territorial extent, with du-
pick system OF national and state government and
jurisprudence, and out OF the problems presented
by the continued multiplication Of corporations
dealing with interests vital alike to individuals and
society. He Insisted that justice was OF supreme
and paramount Importance, not simply to indvid-
uals, but to the nation as such, and that justice
was the result OF good laws well administered.
He entered upon critical survey OF the general
nature OF our system OF laws and its practical
were conSonant with political Institutions, and
adapted to the genius, temper and wants OF our
people. He declared that the common law, inclu-
ding equity, was the groundwork OF the whole
system OF American jurisprudence. He traced the
history Of the development OF that law, and showed
that 1t had from the first been distinguished and
characterized by spirit Of freedom which eSpeci-
ally adapted 1t to the temper and necessities OF
self-governed people; and that management OF
local affairs by local constituencies cOnSonant
with the spirit OF the common law. was adopted at
an early period In England, and has been carried
to still greater extent In this country that the
states severally dealt with the congerieS OF NUM-
cipal institutions independent OF federal control,
thus happily preventing concentration OF pot1-
Cal power at the national center: that in the as
cending scale, the federal constitution con-
stituted the states and people OF all the
states into the national government He
as the most remarkable work OF constructive p0llt
cal organization ever created. AdvertIng to the
bic and essential part Of judicial and political
SYSTEM and that 1t belongs to free institutions
and tends to perpetuate them. He entered upon a
critical examination OF the doctrine OF judicial
precedent and the multiplication OF law reports OF
which we had in England and in this country at
this time more than six thousand Volumes
Our law consists OF two great diviSiOns-of stat
ute law and case law The law in its present condi
ton, he said, fairly open to the three-fold OBJ
and want of convenience The sneaker was in
favor OF conservative cOdification OF the law. He
spoke OF the Field cOdl1caton OF the law OF procee
dure in New York state and spoke OF its complete
triumph. He said that there were two causes for
the deterioration OF case law in this country
First, the growing custom OF submitting cases on
printed briefs instead OF by oral argument, and,
second, the habit or numerous appellate courts
signing record to one judge 10 write the opinion
without the previous examination of the case IN
conference by all the judges. In both OF these re-
spects, 1t gave him pleasure to say, he considered
the Supreme Court Of the United states TO be a
model for all other appellate courts in the country
Latest Foreign News by Cable.
TRIAL OF THE DUBLIN SCANDAL. CONTINUED.
DUBLIN, August 21.-Tne trial OF the scandal cases
was continued to-day. Robert Fowler and Daniel
Considine were convicted of keeping disorderly
houses and sentenced to two years in prison.
Charged with Murder.
LANCASTER, Pa, August 21.-Adam Behney was
placed on trial here to-day charged with the muir
der OF Bernard Short, a prominent citizen OF this
county, last January Short found on tire
roadside with his brains beaten out Behney had
been tenant OF Shorts, but was evicted and 1t is
presumed that he killed him out OF revenge