The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-03-12
CRUSADE AGAINST LAWYERS.

the State, and there about 200, 900 voters
And when they so to the Legislature they
should not be blamed for all the bad legis-
lation ; for they arc in minority there.
Will anybody undertake to provo that
lawyers are less patriotic than other people
They have served the State as faithfully in
peace and in war as any other class Of citi-
zens. Let any old soldier say if this i.
not true. And everybody remembers with
what unsel6shness and fidelity they worked
in 1876, on the stump and everywhere
else they were needed, for the success of
the democracy.
1t is getting to bc quite tho style among
a low order of political reformers to abuse
and vilify lawyers in the abstract But
lawyers do not exist in the abstrao.
they are re real, living, acting personalities,
known and observed of the communities
in which they 1.-Two. They are the kiusmcn
and friends aud companions Of other poo
pie of all other cailngs in the community :;
they arc officers in the churches, trustees
in the schools aud colleges; and in every
other way, in their individual relationship,
stand on their merits as other men in other
professions and calliuSs do. Let anyone
take the trouble to call over tho list of law
yers he is acquainted with-the individual
members of tho profession -and see if they
do not compare favorably, in point Of char
acter and personal worth-escentials of
true manhood-with the average man in
other walks of life. There arc BLACK
sheep among the lawyers only as there are
BLACK sheep among farmers, merchants
and mechanics.
If one has valid objection to a lawyer,
let him make it an individual objection, as
he does in the case Of merchant or farm.
or, and not abuse the whole profession for
the faults Of one.
1t may be set down as pretty SAFE rule
that the man who is eternally abusing the
lawyers is q; demagogue and is trying to
advance his own aspirations by appealing
to prejudice and passion.
| This is not written iu defense of lawyers
t--for t6ey aced uotacssnss; bat as prc-i
test against q mean species Of demagogi.m
that wouH prejusice one class of citizens
against another, far political purposes Afor
it is a significant fact that all the abuse of
lawyers centers in politics.
But how do tho lawyers regard this
abuse Of themselves ? We do not know,
but think it very likely they regard it with
contempt, as all other sensible people do.
They know the purpose and they know
that everybody else whose opinion is worth
anything knows it also and so they move
on serenely aud uncoucerned. They know,
and they feel that every other sensible man
knows, that they are measured by their
character and not by their calling-as
other men arc. And they know more than
that-and Fight here we would put a flea
in the ear of the ant-lawyer' howler-
they know that the more lawyers are
abused, tn, more will discriminating and
justice,loving public come to their vudica>
tion Whenever they arc candidates for Of
fee. And this is no doubt the reason that
Of all men who run for Office, the greater
proportion of those elected are lawyers.
If two men Of equal merit and ability
are running against each other one of them
being a lawyer and the other candidate
or his friends base his claims to support on
the ground that he is not lawyer while
his opponent is, the lawyer will be elected;
for no will have not only the votes of those
who vote for him on his merits, but will
get the votes Of many who, otherwise neu-
tral, will take the part Of the candidate
who is upjustly abused.
The best way to elect lawycr is to
abuse tie laSycr.
While on this subject, it occurs to us
that there was time when it was not OBJ
jected but lawyers held prominent posi-.
tions in tho country, and at time, too,
when they served not for salary but for
patriotism. Let US run over the list OF
the Generals tha. were in the Confederate
army from South Carolina, and see what
their occupations were before they wen.
into the war. 1t may give some now ideas
} to politicians whose stock in trade is abuse
of the lawyers. The list of Generals may
not be complete, but embraces all that we
can now call to mind:
Lawyers Maxcey Gregg, j. b. Ker.
shaw, Jno. d. Kennedy, Samuel MCGOWAN
w. Ii. Wallace, NJ. w. Gary, NJ. L. Bon.