The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-08-22
THE BAR.
Col. Douglas High Tribute to the
Legal Fraternity.

Col. Douglas High Tribute to tn
Legal Fraternity.
Among the excellent speeches at tn,
banquet given the North Carolin
Press Association in Greensboro, Oh
the night Of July 18th, was that Q
Col. r. M. Douglas, which we hav
the honor to lay before our readers
Col. Douglas said:
Mr.. POSTMASTER and Gentlemen
\ great Judge in a great address ha
recently said that "'rhe Bar ant
the Press are the great safeguards o
| liberty" No ,ruer utteranCe wa
ever made; and it is with just pride
that | feel that the two noble profes
slons to which we belong are 81
worthy of their high mission, thei
splendid anteCedents, and the grea
State whose destnes we control.
The enormous power of the Pres
is we'll understood; but few appreciate
the powers and responsibilities of ths
Bar. The rights, the liberties ano
the lives Of our citizens are in keeping
Of fhe Bar; for the Bench is but ths
extension of the Bar, and the Judge
can never rise higher than the Bal
from which he has come. There is ar
unfortunate prejudice against lawyers
but nothing could be more unjust.
| (A,r boc p,op,horc IS the
purest as we'll as the ablest men or
earth, who are always ready to defend
the poor and humble, and be satisfied
with the fee Of an approving con.
science. What nobler work could a
Christian lawyer do than to defend
the defenceless; what higher fee could
be asked than to have his name borne
above to the Throne of Grace in tear
full supplication of mothers grateful
heart, and the lisping prayer of child
| hood?
The practical lawyer has the best
trained mind on earth. In addition
to the varied experience acquired from
contact with all classes of people and
the management of all kinds of suits,
he alone is brought into constant and
direct personal rivalry with men,
bers of his own profession. The pro-
prieties of the medical profession for
bid mutual criticism. Preachers and
editors may fire at each other, but it is
at long range and from a rest. Law
yers alone must be ever prepared to
attack or defend at moments notice
as the exigencies Of the occasion may
require.
History will show that the lawyers
have ever been the most consistent de-
tenders of the rights Of the people;
and in resisting the encroachments OF
arbitrary power, have shown as true
courage as any soldier that ever trod
the field of battle.
Leonidas at Thermopelae was no
nobler than Demosthenes in Phillipics
in the Athenian Forum.
The charge of the Light Brigade at
Balaklava was no braver than the as
sault OF Ersklne upon the assumed
prerogatives Of the British Crown in
the halls of Westminster.
The patriots at Bunker Hill in
CURED no greater risk than those who
pledged their lives, their fortunes and
their sacred honor to the Declaration
of independence.
The battle Of Waterloo, changing
the face of Europe, and effecting the
destinies of mankind, was not as i'm
portant to England and millions of
English speaking people throughout
the world, as Runnymede.
Grand as is the historic figure of the
Iron Duke, it is no grander than that
of Robert Fitz Walker and the Nor
man Barons who stood by his side for
the rights of man.
On that bright June morning whose
sunshine still lights the path of liber-
ties as the anxious glance of King
John passed along the line of the
armed barons of England, whose
hearts of fame and hands of steel have
almost made this world their own, he
finally rested upon the priestly figure
Of an old and unarmed man.
Father of Magma Charta first wit
hess On its immortal scroll, and until
his death its guardian spirit, the name
of Stephen Langton, hero, saint and
sage, will not only blaze forever upon
the topmost arch of fame, but will
live forever in the grateful heart of
every freeman through countless ages
yet to come.
Let US then remember our great
powers and responsibilities as men,
bers Of the Press and of the Bar Of
North Carolina.
| Let Us pledge our mother State that
we will bravely face those responsible
tiles and faithfully use those powers.
Let US promise her that come what
may, our warmest love shall be hers;
our highest pride her honor; and our
most earnest efforts spent in promo
ting her prosperity, supporting her
laws and defending the rights and
liberties Of her people.