New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-26
MR.. DEPEH TO LAWYERS.

Mr.. Depew's Grafton before the Yale Law
School yesterday, to which we give as much
space this morning "a other commencement OBJ
legations will permit. was one of the most
instructive and felicitous of his innumerable
addresses. He touches many topics and adorns
them all, but every stroke is SO deft that some
reflection is required to show how true and sure
it is We trust that the young lawyers for
whom it was specially designed, and every
member Of the profession who heard it, com
pretended its value and significance.
1t has long seemed to us that the legal pro-
fession is partic ulary exposed. and most Of all
in large cities, to the danger Of forgetting that
It's duty to itself and its duty to the public are
one and the same thiag. Mr.. Depew. in ex-
pounding the true conception Of the lawyers
obligations to society, suggested without ampli-
flying this thought. He doubtless had in mind
the facility with which the aid Of legal talent
and skill may be procured, and constantly is
procured in New-York, to accomplish purposes
which it is very hard TO reconcile with the law
yeFs status as an officer Of the court. The
benefcent principle that man is innocent until
he has been proved guilty may be ingeniously
expanded to mean that rascality has right OF
defence, but we have never heard an argument
in proof of the proposition that lawyer may
properly cheat the law in behalf Of a client
Yet 1t is precisely that which brings the largest
fees into the pockets Of many learned and hon
ored practitioners at the New York bar. II
has been proved scores of times within the last
ten years that no germ Of public or private vii
lany need die undevelOped for lack OF the most
skilful and assiduous efforts on the part Of law
yers to bring it TO maturity. And II the bar
of this city is more DETAINED by such practices
than that Of other communities, we suppose il
to be because the opportunities and the re-
wards are greater.
Neither the cunning connection OF means to
violate the law with impunity nor even the
driving Of coach and four through the meShes
of careless statute is an occupation which
ought to be considered respectable; and the
fact that an exceedingly profitable notoriety
may be achieved in this manner does not make
it SO, though it often seems to. There is u
wide field for the energy VI young LAWYERS
whose time Is not otherwise fully employed in
conscientious ell orts to purge the profession oi
such practices as these. One OF the rarest
events with which the courts have to deal is
q suit for disbarment II the legal brotherhood
az n unit had a clearer conception Of its rela
tons to society. and il individuals bad keener
sense of their personal responsibilities, such
suits would be far more common.
There is another suggestion, which 1t may
seem superhuuus to ofer to young men who
have Just been admitted to practice, and thi'
Is that there is a wide difference between e1
tortion aud dignifed estimate Of the value d
| q service rendered. In one sense, no doubt 4
| lawyers labor is worth what IL will fetch, bu
| the fact that it is commonly money, instead
| for example Of health or consolation, that TIL
lawyer brings to his client, too often confuse
his ideas Of justice. When one considers TIT
| immense amount of time and effort giatuitousl!
expended by physicians and clergymen, and b!
workers in almost every other field Of activity
he il forced 10 conclude that the legal profession
offers strong temptations to selfshness. Tn
only criticism ever made Of great aud ven
cradle lawyer whom his brethren recently en-
tertaiued at dinner in this city was that he ba'
always charged too little for his services. 1t
| not an unenviable distinction.