Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-10-12

/ hundreds OF others, were defenders oil
the people. They were lawyers, and they
have worthy sons OF this age, who can
well stand the elsuderous attacks OF de-
graded and lying dcmagogues and the
foolish hatred Of cross road polititions,
who have more ambition than they have
brains, and are disgruniled be-
cause they think they might swim
Idle the people, II the lawyers
would stay out Of politics and not expose
the fraud. But while lawyers have al
ways been the friends Of the people against
oppression and Capitalization. they are
also opposed 20 the despotism that grows
out Of anarchy. So the Infamous asser-
ton and SANDER that lawyers are in any
wise the tools Of monopoly Is a reductio
ad absurdum.
2. What is there TO indicate that law
yers are In opposition to the interests of
the laborlng and industrial clasees7
Where have they showed it2 tits an i'm
possibility to point to an instance in his
tory where they have, as class, made
war, either directly or indirect
ly, upon the interests OF
wage-workers. But am told that they
show 1t when they are elected TO congress
and to the legislatures. When2 How3
And where? Take lawyer who is a
faithful--at least you have been told So
But how do you know he is not SLAM
dered? Admit, however, he Is defaulter
| to duty. Where do most of your de-
| faulters come from? About one-sixth of
the defaulters In the state and federal
government come from the lawyers, in
proportion, too, to the number holding
oflice--that is, about five to one OF every
other class in Office are treacherous to
their constituency to where there is one
lawyer. Your state treasurers, and your
credit-mobiliers, and back-salary grab
bling, to great extent, lacked the legal
element. II any man win take pains to
examine minutely into defalcatlons which
have occurred both In state and national
governments, and into the actions OF
those who have controlled and legislated
upon the rights of the people, he will flud
there has been more lost to the people
through the rascality and treachery OF
every other class represented In legisla-
tive assemblies In this government than
by lawyers. Balancing the good and evil
done by all alike, the problem, when
solved, will result as have said 1t Is
simply stuff and nonsense to say that
lawyers are enemies 10 the class who
give them their business and hence their
living, and the assertion Is only uttered
by lying demagogues and their cohorts,
and its assertion is intensely disgraceful
when coming from man claiming to be Il
lawyer. hope no man in Tarrant county
has become legal mihimus. But labor
organs seem TO approve Beck, and Coke
and Reagan, and these men are lawyers.
And even If some lawyers in congress
have loaned themselves to monopoly,
is that any reason why the whole
profession should be charged with being
the tools and minions of monopoly to
crush the farmer andRwsge-worker, when
the profession depends upon that class
for its sustenance2 1t would be simply q
social or political paradox that is without
parallel.
3. But, lawyers are said to be morally
worse than others; that it will never do
to trust Them that they will prove treach-
erous and unfalthful in public positions,
and that they are traditional liars. Now,
lawyers by silence, by jest, by pandering
and trucking to others, have aided in
disseminating and perpetuating these
ISLANDERS. 1t IS time for them to call a halt
and assert their rights. There are many
fools who believe these ISLANDERS, and
some who are not fools like to tell these
things for the truth. The lawyer is genial
and laughs at SANDER. He is said
i to be moral nuisance and necessary
evil, yet all come 10 him. His ear is the
receptical of more secrets than the con-
fessional. The frailty and infrmity OF
human nature are laid bare before him,
and he must study, and contend, and
fight at the bar of justice for those who
have been wronged. The murderer, the
robber, the thief, the rapist, injured
wives, dlsgruntled husbands, all, all come
to him and entrust TO his care and con-
idence the nearest and dearest interests
of life, and then turn and say he is I'M
worthy Of trust--and those who law
most are those who now abuse the law.
yers. The church opens her doors to
lawyers, SO does society; yet they are
classed with gamblers ana saloon
keepers. 1t is not only the privilege, but
the duty of a lawyer to defend his pro-
fession, when as a candidate, his
profession Is made ground of
objection to his holding office.
Lawyers are not better than some men,
perhaps, but they are better than some,
and surely he has reason to fix his moral
standard high, when he has grand pre-
cepts on the one hand and sees too much
rascality on the other.
1 4. People have sought lawyers for
official positions. This does not need
argument, for there is not voting
place or precinct In the United States
where he could obtain anything except
the people gave it to him--and even If he
did seek, what could he avail, unless he
were sought.
3. The same reason will hold good In
conventions. How could he ever get to
a convention unless the people send him?
And there Is not precinct in Texas
where the laboring and Industrial classes
are not in the majority. How could the
lawyer control these except by out-voting
the whole crowdY This defense is not
needed. The lawyer can rest in indie
pendence, since tie frailty OF man in
sures his livelihood. He can keep silent
because conscious of his own worth and
the fntilitv NJ AlI such aaaartinna 40 are