The Labor enquirer., 1886-09-18
LAWYERS.
How They Have Increased In Numbers.
They Control Congress aud
Rule Our Land.
For the Enquirer.

For the Enquirer.
Truth pleads its own cause; falsehood
hath many lawyers. Charles Dickens
by the mouth of Stephen Blackpool
said: ut is all muddle !" and Henry
F. Durant, of New York, said: "Law is
the most degrading of all professions, the
law being system of falsehood and in
justice"
In1 1870 there were 500 lawyers in the
United States and 100000 inhabitants
this was one lawyer to every 5000 per-
sons. In 1880 there were 81 1000 peo-
pie and 64,1S7 lawyers, or one lawyer to
every 800 persons. Is it any wonder that
as a people we are more wicked than we
used to be? Looking on through the
ages with his peerless insight, we'll
might Christ say: "Woe unto you law
yers also, for ye lade men with bur-
thens greyions to be borne, and We touch
not the burthen with one of your fin
gers"
How these words of the Master fit
into American history and politics,
when all our presidents, except four,
have been lawyers, and most of the
United States senate and members of
congress are lawyers. Need we wonder
that the liberties of the people are being
curtailed and hemmed in on every side
and that the peaple have to eat, drink,
work and sleep bv law and precedent ?
The laws of nature hav3 been subVerted
30 that under our present system of lur-
isprudence man has no rights that the
law is bound to respect; not even he
right to life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness. All ls uncertainty, doubt
and misgiving. Man cannot trust his
fellowman; and there is nothing posi-
tive but death.
The theologians attribute all our woes
TO total depravity but it appears to me,
at least, to come from pure cussedness
of the ruling and legal classes. There
can be no hope of any permanent re-
form in our industrial, political or social
well-being while one in every 800 is a
trained tr1ckster, and will sell himself
to subvert honesty, Justice and equity
anv day of the year. Whoever heard Of
one of tiles limbs of the law refusing to
take up case, no matter how depraVed
the client or how rotten the case. if there
was good fee to back it up. He can
find both law and precedent to justify
his course. q
If the peoIle of this nation Continue
to elect this legal class to office, every
vestige of liberty will be lost to them, as
these mems education and conscience
are so far demoralized chat they will ac-
cept fee or retainer to take up any
case against the people for those who are
able to pay, They will defend or prose-
cute any case, though, black as night,
without anY qualms of conscience. Our
United States senators. while in the pay,
of the people, will leave the senate in the
midst of the most urgent business, to 60
and argue case in the law courts in fa-
vor of some great monopoly. And, in
deed, are they not retained and sent to
the senate by some monopoly, as paid
agents, for the purpose representing or
defeating legislation that would inter
fere with their clients success
Until the people cease to elect LAWYERS
to Office there can be no reform in favor
of the people. 1t is idle to say that they
are good men and church members.
THE Ethiopian cannot change his skin
or the leopard his spots" or they that
have been accustomed to do evil learn
to do we'll" Reformers avoid the law
yers. THOMAS YOU'VE.
DENVER, Sept II.