The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-02
INTEGRITY OF LAWYERS.

read in the Eagle a clipping from the
Lawrence Journal concerning George L.
Douglass. This suggests a question
have often pondered. 1 have no partic-
ular reference to Douglas, as 1 know moth
ing of the gentleman. 1 most respect
fully ask you to give the public your views
in answer to the following: why is it
that 80 per cent of men who become law
yers appear to lose their conscience, their
honesty, principles and all sense of right
eousness and justice?'' Respectfully,
JUNIUS, JR.
The question of Junius, Jr., seems to
imply that the Eagles structures upon
Mr. Douglass reflects upon him as the
lawyer. The Eagle did not cehsure Mr..
Douglass the lawyer, but Mr.. Douglass
the politician.
Is it true that 90 per cent of men
who become lawyers lose their COLI
science, honor, principle and all sense
Of justice? Complaint against lawyers
is not new. "And behold, a certain
lawyer stood up, and tempted him,
saying, Master, what shall 1 do to in
herit eternal life:" And the Master
said: "Woe unto you also, We lawyersI
for We lode men with burdens grievous
To be borne and We yourselves touch
not the burden with one of your fipg
ers." Shakespeare said "the first thing
we do. let's kill all the lawyers" 1t
may be argued that the lawyer referred
to by Christ was q teacher OF the
law" in the Mosaic or Scriptural sense.
However that may be the quotation is
as it stands in the approved transla-
tons. Nor indeed does it much mat
ter. The lawyer, the tempter Of
Christ, loding "men with burdens griev-
Gus TO be borner Thus from ancient
times to Junius Jr., has condemnation
been melted out 20 lawyers. 'The first
thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers"
Notwithstanding this there is another
side TO the subject. While lawyers
have been censured they have been
honOred. While they have been paint
ed as villains they have been selected
for the highest trusts of a free people
OF the nineteen men elected 10 the
fourteen We're lawyers
The Declaration of Independence was
the outcome of an agitation led almost
wholly by lawyers. The constitutional
was controlled and directed
by lawyers Lawyers have been in the
in every congress TO the Fifty
fourth. OF the men whom our history
makes prominent what a list OF law
yers! Adams. Jefferson, Hamilton,
Monroe. Clay, Webster, Lincoln. John
Sherman, and Garfield were lawyers.
Jackson and Calhoun were educated
as lawyers. The course Of history, |
of lawmaking or otherwise,
has been shaped by lawyers. In the |
majority of communities the prominent |
and controlling spirits are lawyers. The !
press has grown in influence as com
pared with the forum, the hastings and |
the pulpit. and will continue 10 grow |
in proportion as it frees itself from ali /
kinds OF Servility, but the fact re 1
mains that the oracle in most commun- |
ties is an individual and that individ- |
lsl in most cases q lawyer. The pres /
mt congress has DDS lawyers and Us
# all other callings. The senate has /
lawyers and thirty Of all 1
1ther callingS, zone vacancy. The pol
~ of the Republican party il shaped
~ lawyers. This is true OF the Dem
,cracy. with emphasis as applied 70
southern politics Even the POpulists.
he outgrow1h Of the Farmers Alliance.
ire now under the control % lawyers
lnd seooRd-rate ones at that Half
heir congressional representation are
awyerS II lawyers have lost their
'onScience. their principle. their honor.
his prominence and potency IN public
.ff4irs Is a public misfortune, indeed Il
'ublie calamity.
For a moment let Us inquire about
he law profession and the men who