The morning news., 1888-11-29

pendence from improper motives in such
men exists more in theory than in fact.
They just as often resort to dishonest prac-
tices to increase their gains, or to advance
their material interests, as poor men, per-
hapS oftener. The appetite for gain grows
often upon what it feeds, until. finally, 1T
dominates mind, heart, character and mo-
tive IS it never could have done when is
greed first seized its victim.
II the ownership of real estate be quail
tcation for office, how much should be re-
ured Should it be over or under the
homestead Should it be store property or
h uses Must it be located in Yamacraw
or on the Bay9 Would it be sufficient for a
candidate to hold it as trustee for his wife
and children, or must it be in his own name
What sort of an estate in it would be neces-
sary, a life estate or fee simple Would 1t
suffice for HIM to own only the real estate
which he occupies, or must he be landlord
with long rent roll 2 These are ques-
tions which | submit for the careful consid-
GRAFTON of Real Estate, +" when he is improv-
ing on the constitution and laws of the land
concerning the qualifications for holding
office. If any aspirant for the mayoralty,
who owns real estate, will father the COM
munication referred to, he can very easily
and etfectually test the question as to what
the people think of the propriety of adding
this qualification. Should he attempt it, |
venture to predict that the voters, in
cludng the great majority of real estate
owners themselves, would so rebuke such a
candidacy that this novel and n-Amerlcan
platform would never be heard of again.
Your contributor intimates that a lawyer
who does not own real estate has no ''Stake"
in the community. Is it possible that the
ownership of real estate, or of any other
tangible property, is necessary to give a
man "stakeo in a city where he has
always lived and in which he expects to die,
the home of his children, where they are to
be reared! Has he no stake in a COM
munity in which he makes living out of a
practics which he has built up by years of
hard work and the faithful discharge of
duty-a practice which, if good estab-
lished practice, represents, in actual money
value, a considerable amount of real estate!
If a mans stake" is confined to his real
estate or other property, he can sell thut
and go to another community. But whore
a mans stake" is largely in his prac-
tice, that is something he cannot dispose
of. 1t, in special and peculiar sense, binds
him to a community and identifies him with
it. He cannot transfer this interest or its
money equivalent to another community
its value depends upon his continuance in a
place where be has built p this practice.
Derelictlon Of official duty, any course that
would forfeit tue good opinion of good citi-
zens, would in a lawyer be peculiarly uu-
wise. His best interests, let alone his intel
ligence and character, would demand q
faithful and impartial performan of his
duty. l can safely assert that the lawyers
referred to feel as keen an interest in the
welfare and prosperity of Savannah as
Real E ,tateH can feel let him be ever So
rich in lands and houses.
Tho cIIuUastiOn that q lavvpr O1Iuhf NOT
to be mayor, that only Il business man is fit
for such position, cannot be sustained by
argument, reason or facts A man who, in
this community, would attempt to run upon
a class platform like this, would be over
whelmingly and righteously defeated. The
fact is that q lumber of lawyers have filled
this very office, and experience demon
strates that they make efficient and success
full officers The two Charltons, Ward and
Jones of ante-bellum DAYS, can be cited.
There are perhaps others. The present ex
ecutive need not be mentioned. Did not
these make good and acceptable mayors
among the very best that the city has ever
hada Would they have done any better if
they had been landlords or traders? The
highest type of intellect or character is not
that of the money-getter or the "money
saver" whether the savings go into houses
or bonds. The best pursuit for the enlarge
ment and development of the mental facul
ties is not that of the mere trader or the
collector of rents from tenants. Surely,
the study and pursuit of the law have
vastly the advantage, and if they result in
the establishment of good practice among
intelligent and upright people, they demon
strate faithfulnesS to trust and the ability
to Justly and efficiently administer i'm
portant public affairs. The presidents, gov
ernors and mayors Of the country have gen
orally been LAWYERS, ard this has EeeA Sc
ever since we have had government in the
country. 1t could not have been so for sc
long time, and to such a large extent
if the profession in any wise untitled q
man for such executive offices. 1t would
not havo been so if the pursuit OF
the law had not, on the contrary. helped
to qualify for just such Offices. | do not
wish to be misunderstood. | am sure that
there are number of merchants in Sayan-
nah, whether real estate own rs or not, wLC
would make excellent mayors, would maze
faithful, intelligent and progressive ex GU
tive officers. l am equally sure that there
are q number of merchants, who may also
be large owners of real estate, who are not
fit for the Office. am confident, too, that
there are some lawyers in Savannah who
would make excellent mayors There are
many who are not fit for the Office. | be
heve, however, that those very individuals,
who have succeeded as merchants and would
make excellent mayors, would make
better mayors if they had sue
cessfully applied themselves to the
study OF the law and had acquired the de-
velopment and cultivation of tho intellect
flowing from this study. And they would
not have been, if successful lawyers, any
the less practical men. A mere book
lawyer cannot succeed. There is no class of
men more practical, with more commol
sense, than successful lawyers. They must
be so, or utterly fail. They may be all of
this, and yet never accumulate property.
They may be aminently worthy of the
suffrages of their fellow-citizens and yet
not own real estate. Their failure to accu-
mulate property, instead of evincing any
lack of success in their profession, may re-
suit from the possession Of qualities which
ought to commend them to the gool opinion
of all men, except those who know no
higher standard of worth or success than
the size of mans purse.
This is not written in the interest Of any
candidate for office. There was only one
candidate among the lawyers when the
communication of "Real Estaten anpearad