The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-30
THE DIGNITY OF THE LAW.
rHk ADDRESS BY MR.. pEpEw TO THE
YALE LAW CLASS.
An Expose OF Anarchy --Fallacies OF
Prophecy--N Noble Work Done by Law
yers in the Past and Their Response
bilities ms to the Future.

Chauncey NJ. Depew
l do not propose to pursue any OF the
subjects upon which you have been in
structed by this learned faculty, nor am ]
prepared 10 compete with you with
thesis upon some legal question as part
Of the exercises OF graduation. The CON-
mencement orator usually addresses him
self 10 the professors and the elder mom-
bes OF the profession, but came here 10
speak 10 you. The most joyous OF days Is
that which closes the doors OF the school
and opens the gateway OF the world; the
most apprehensiye, the one which marks
the opening OF your clientess Office; the
happiest, the first return after the future is
secure and success assured, 10 college
scenes and associations 1t is the privi-
lege OF age and experience to indicate
paths in the fields you are yet 10 explore.
10 point out the dangers which beset
them, and the methods OF safe and COM
Portable travel. Most OF the ideals OF these
closing hours devoted TO the confidential
interchange Of aspirations and hopes will
be- shattered against the stern realities OF
practical life, but their destruction will
furnish the lessons for sure foundations
and permanent construction.
At this hour all your thoughts are con-
ccntrated in one word-success. II your
construction OF success was honestly an.
alyxcd IL would probably mean TO most
minds the getting OF money. The desire
10 acquire property Is the most potent
force in the activities OF our people. II Is
the handspring OF our marvellous develop
mcnt, and the incentive aud reward OF
intelligent industry. II Is alike the
cause OF the noblcst efforts and tho
most revolving crimes. That man would
be unfaithiul 10 his family aud 10
his own Independence who did not use
every honorable effort and practice every
reasonable economy 10 secure homo aud
competence for declining years. But the
lawyer who makes that his.sole aim Is an
unworthy member OF the noblest OF pro-
LESSONS and will mover win It's honors or
rewards.
TnR ANTIQUITY oF THE LAW.
The mastery Of any calling involves q
thorough knowledge OF its history and OBJ
jects and pride in lis pursuit. The law is
at once the drycst OF studies and fullest OF
Inspiration. Its relation 10 liberty, gov
eminent and the welfare Of mankind en-.
largo the vision OF the student. and tho
broader his learning tho more eager is his
enthusiasm. The discovery Of the Pam
dects OF Jgstinian in the sack OF Amaln
saved the world from rclapsing into barba.
rism. This great codifcaiion Of the learn.
ing OF centuries illumined the monastery,
liberalized the church, invaded the uni.
yensitics, checked feudalism, taught Justice
10 rulers and their rights 10 the people and
preserved civilization from being hopeless
w lost in the darkness OF the Middle Ages.
but while the light thus shed by the laws
OF an ancient aud extinct empire rescued
Europe from the reign Of brute force and
ignorance, ami while the general princi-
De-, y 81 justicc are Of universal application,
the institutions OF every people are the
csults OF origin, race. character, environ
ment and climatic conditions. II Is tho
glory Of tho ancestry from which We dc.
rive our laws that. though sometimes con.
qnercd, they never lost their statutes or
customs. All other nations have fallen
under the codes Of the invader. but Will
: lam the Norman left untouched those
sources Of Justice aud freedom which were
found In saxon jurisprudence.
write their names, brought King John 10
the field Of Runnymedc. Al the point Of
their good swords they forced from him
Magma Charta, and with their hilt they
stamped upon Il their arms, but the pen Of
The lawyers iramedt. These great jurists,
loyal M the profession has ever been TO lii.
criy, unrecognized then and unknown
nov, 20 wisely drew the great charter o
freedom that Il has been confirmed thirty.
suvcn times, and today needs neither
amendment nor commentary. The law
ycrs compelled Elizabeth, proudest o.
Queens, TO surrender the monopoliei
which were running the Kingdom, will
an apology that she intended them for Ia,
good OF the people, which was at that pc
Rod most valuable admission OF popular
rights.
GLORIOUS EyoLurioS.
Coke checked even the arbitrary Charlie
]. with the judgment that ihe law was su
purior 10 the sovcrcign's will, and Crom
we'll charged nj Manton Moor for princi
pies learned ~ n student at law, and b,
them raised England from the depth o
deg adation 10 the pinnacle OF greatness
while ruling nj Westminster. Tho earl,
settlers OF America were deeply imbuct
by prccept aud example with Mag
ma Charta, the Petition Of Rghh
and the principles OF tho common
law, but they fed from ecclesiastical
tyranny and the abuses Of privileges. The,
sought liberty, religious aud civil. IL
their hard struggles with savage man anC
inhospltnblc nature, the simple econom,
OF their State needed no lawyers, and fo
quite n century they had none. Th'
minister and the magistrate both mad
the laws and administered them. Bu
those hundred years were the nursery o
the American lawyer. Equal condition.
had led, not 10 communism or socialism
ior they arr alien TO our race, but 10 polit
teal rghts common 10 oil. Every princi
pic derived from tho Old World which
strengthened the indiy..iuai and proiocie,
hun IN ma home. bis family. bis propcrt,
aud his citizcnshlp found fertile soil ans
grew with expansive Nigor. The gcniu
OF this development was 10 destroy priv
lcgc AID promote equality. IL was neithe
revolt nor revelation against caste ans
class. for neither were present TO ovcrcome
hut 4 was a growth which left them out
II WIS an evolution which peacefully pro
dnccd a Commonwealth where their cx
isicneo was impossible.
AuNgicA's oBEAr LAvYEna
Az commerce and trade increased com
munitics became crowded, property wa
60 be exchanged and devised. and th'
mulliiudinous relations OF civilized life u
cities aud towns adjusiei. lawyers becam'
Necessity. They were at once the al
yis,rs-of the pcoplc and the architects o
The state. The moro wo study, tho NOR
We admire the ability. integrity. couug
and patriotism VI these fathers OF thu
l.. A A..