Wichita eagle., 1890-01-15

with confidence that justice viii be done
according to the best lights ootainahIe.
Even guilty man prefers an upright
court The courts are the repository OF
the peoples power. 1t IS supposed that
the judicial power IS reposed in the courts,
and the executive power In the executive
department. But the real executive power
that guides and controls all men ID iii
walks OF life, that keeps guard over their
hearthstones and their herds, that secures
to them what they nave ana restores 10
them that which is their due, that enforces
their rights aud redresses their wrongs,
eliminates from the courts
have said that the people create and
control the courts But more than this
the people at large constitute potent fac
tor, an equal part of the court itself The
great business concerns of life are made
up of facts. The chief controversies of
| men are controversies of facts. The basis
! OF all litigation Is dispute OF fact. Ii there
were 10 contests Of fact Jurisprudence
would die and the lawyers occupation
1 would be gone.
| The facts of legal controversies are re-
| solved bytnose taken from the very BODY
! Of the people the jury. The jury system,
/ as constituent part of our judicial ma
/ chinery, has ever been regarded as the
very citadel of Justice and the strong tow
/ er of liberty The jury decides the facts.
| But for the rules of right as applicable 10
| the facts we look to the judge, and so the
| Judge is commonly called the court. The
| great BODY of these rules pronounced by
/ the Judge are not found imbedded in legls-
| lative enactments, but rest IN reason and
| conscience which are the essence OF law
and equity, and are found and tested and
adopted as the result of the labors OF the
! LAWYERS The lawyer holds the torch that
! guides the Judge and jury In the pathway
| to the truth. The lawyer does not decide,
/ "a
the mind that makes the decision.
The LAWYER is not invested with the
authority OF power, but he Quickens the
| conscience that moves the arm that wIeldS
the power.
The LAWYER is the most catholic of men.
In the circle of his duties he touches ali
! classes and all conditions. He Is the
trustee Of the rich mans wealth; he is the
champion OF the poor mans cause; he IS a
guide to the widow, a protector to the or
| phan: a support TO the weak and barrier
| to the strong. He is the universal conf
dant OF mankind. He fills all public places
| from president to postmaster. lie eXer-
! cises all trusts from treasurer OF the ma
TONS millions to the guardianship OF the
| minors mite He has been a peacemaker
! in thousands of homes, and has led to
| liberty more thousands OF the really OPP
pressed He is counsellor and guide In ali
! business Transactions between great anu
small He is the custodian OF the secret
| inteuts of the hearts OF men. 1t must De
( confessed he holds momentoUs trusts, and
/ is charged with grave responsibilities, no
class of men more so.
1t NAV be asserted confidently that IN
| comparison of numbers, no other class OF
men have proven SO loyal TO the trusts
! confded to them as have the lawyers OF
America. They give no bond, yet OF the
millions of money passing through their
, hands annually the percent of defalcation is
smaller than that of any other class OF
men. Indeed it is true that breaches OF
trust on the part of lawyers are so rare
that when it does occur 1t IS wondered at
rs a remarkable thing. do not lmpIy
! that every lawyer reaches this hlgn stand
| ard All lawyers are men and no man Is
perfect, and many men are low, and the
/ lowest man is he who is the lowest lawyer.
1t would seem that LAWYERS should occupy
/ positions of influence In the community:
| that a body of men so universally trusted
/ should be universally respected 1t can
not be that the mere fact OF beng law
yer deprives man of weight ID the COM
! munity. and influence among his fellow
men. The great leaders OF the thought
and action of the people of this country
| have been lawyers. This leadership dld
not come to them, however, by reason OF
the mere fact that they were lawyers
! the fact of their being lawyers was poten-
| H.
| character as lawyers; but that was not all.
Leadership and direction came TO them be-
cause of high character as lawyers IN adj
dition to high character as c!tlzens. pc
cause of moral worth. proved Integrity,
broad sympathy and sterling MANHOOD
/ The lawyer with these characteristics need
! have no fear that any measure he may ao-
! vocate among any people Will De Written
! down "a lawyers scheme
| We have organized this association
with the hope that it may rebound to our
mutual good. Not that It may produce
new causes of quarrel or agitate those al
ready existing, or that It may increase the
measure of our compensation; OUT, as we
/ trust, for uobler and more commendaole
Durpose Our constitution declares the
| object Of the association shall be elevation
! of the standard Of professional learning
/ and integrity, so as TO inspire the greater
! degree of respect for the efforts ana In
| fuence of the bar in administration OF
Justice. and to cultivate fraternal and so
cial relations among its members" These
noble objects and if properly pursued VIII
produce noble results. BY association we
enrich our minds, enlighteu our under
standings, refine our spirits broaden our
synpatnies strengthen our moral grasp
/ and elevate our manhood
! sincerely trust that this association
NAV live: that it may grow in interest, IN
/ mower. in influence and in beneficence TO
| its mem bers: that it may inspire within Us
! a zeal for excellence in our chosen PROBES
| sion: that it may raise the standard OF pro-
fessionai character; that IL may illustrate
good citizenship, and that It may win Tor
/ its mem bers that respect Oh men WHICH L
/ the need Of moral worth
At the conclusion OF the address the
president stated that his one profound re-
gret was that the association had not
made better Roadway during his term OF
Office and he hoped that Its future career
| would be more brilliant, aud he was more
than willing to aid it in all possible ways
Mr.. Edwin White Moore, the president
! elect was then called to the chair and in a
few words thanked the association for the
( honor conferred upon him and pledged
himself TO further the interests Of the as
sociation TO the best OF his ability. A briei
reference was made to the difficulties Of
the association, the various measures thai
| had been discussed for It's advancement
and the general prospects, which were
quite promising, if properly nurtured. H'
further suggested that some steps be taker
70 secure the meeting OF the State Bar as
ISOLATION IN this city. The presidents re
marks met with hearty applause.
= Tie election Of vice president being X
order. the bylaws were suspended and Mr.
! o. II. Bentley was chosen vice pres-den
by acc.amation-
Mr.. Bentley being called upon for I
speech said he was taken by surprise and
/ never could speak his feelings under 'sucl
circumstances.
Mr.. Dean Gordon was then chosen sec
retarv for the ensuing year by acclam&
ton. Mr. Weller was likewise chose.
treasurer
On rnn-snn The rrIIas wera again sus