Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-28
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Daniel Doughe1ty, 6 New York law
yer of great ability and an orator Of great
powers is having himself well advertised
throughout the country. Upon fateful
occasion recently Mr.. Dougherty had
the temerity to critiLise the newspapers
very severely, and denounce the modern
system OF "trial by the press" Of people
accused of crime. He may not have in
tended it and doubtless did not, as law
yers are usually unsopbisticated, but ne
simply made himself famous by his attack
upon the press. Every paper from ocean
to ocean feels personally called upon to
"hurl back the SANDER" or words TO that
effect, and the name of Mr.. Dougherty
is becoming as familiar IS that
of Mr.. Riley Of national fame-Mr.
Riley that keeps the hotel. The New
York Tribune feels called upon to say
"It is the custom Of the legal fraternity,
In public discussions, sometimes in &
spirit Of rhetorical eXaltation, but often,
we sre persuaded, with Eli sincerity, to
dilate upon its supreme place in the order
of existence, and to assume that its mem
bers ere professionally endowed with so
mysterious and awful sanctity that
Sheridsn's ascription to Justice might
appropriately be addressed to the meanest
of them: Whose favorite attitude Is to
stoop to the unfortunate, to hear their
cry. to rescue and relieve, to succor and
save; majestic from its mercy, venerable
from its utility, uplifted without pride,
firm without obdurecy, benefcent in each
preference, lovely though in her irown.'
Now the disGuietipg fact is that the legal
fraternity, taken as whole, just escapes
beng public nuisance. To controvert
without quoting Mr.. Dougherty, it does
not live up to a lofty conception OF its duty
to itself or the community; it does not
purge itself of unworthy members; it
does not impesch corrupt judges; it does
not furnish the strongest support OF
social order. 1t Is, to great degree,
lax, selfish and unprincipled. The bar
would never by its own yolition and en-
ergy have indicted twenty-one aldermen
and the man who bribed them, convicted
four and sent three to Sing Sing. In
commonplace procedures it is the duty OF
the press to refrain from anticipating
the verdict-a duty which is seldom vio
lated; but there are occasions when the
great court Of public opinion, to which
bench and bar must bow, is under. the
most sacred obligation to make it's will
manifest. 1t has happened more than
once, when Justice has been drugged by
avsrice and bound by technicalities, that
the press has aroused her and set her
free. We yield to no one in our admlra-
ton of the character and gratitude for the
example and services OF high minded,
fearless, unselfsh, incompatible lawyers;
and such men have never been numeri-
callY few in any generation. But when
next the Bar Association does itself the
honor to listen to Mr. Dougherty he may
confer lasting benefit upon Its members
and upon the community by devoting his
polished and animated eloquence to On
exposition Of the mournful fact that no
man can conccct scheme for public or
private plumber too vile to command
within an hour the services of lawyer
in good and regular standing st the New
York bar" II the newspapers p,id no
more attention to the eloquent vaporings
of the Doughertys, their words would
soon be forgotten.