The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-16

The New York World of last Sunday
contains an editorial article attacking the
Hon. Joseph H. Choate. the eminent New
York lawyer, for faithfully serving his
client in a case he had undertaken. The
article is typical and we, therefore. re-
produce it in fun. as follows:
The eminent Joseph II. Choate need not
and would not stoop to any action which
could justly bring upon him the reprOach
of having violated or even strained
the code of legal honor or legal
morality 1t is. therefore, neces-
sary TO assume that ne was acting
IN accordance with the highest legal ethics
In his argument for the Tobacco Trust
in Vice-Chancellor Reeds court in Jersey
City on Friday.
The Tobacco Trust has been convicted
out Of the mouths of its projectors and
its officials of being one of the most
shameless of the several huge lawlcss and
unlawful combinations of capital. But
Mr.. Choate had taken its money. had
agreed TO defend it. Ii had bought his
brains. and no one has any difficulty In
following the at least plausible reason
ing by which he brought himself TO keep
his bargain. But in making his speech
Mr.. Choate did not confne himself 20
Al VI Ab' D1lN NhsiA So t.ottiAA"t
the trust in this particular case. lie
lauded the trust: he lauded all trusts.
He defended the principle OF monopoly.
Il am aware" said he, that a great
deal can be found in the law-boOks de-
rogatory TO capital. and the greater the
amount OF capital the more virulent the
abuse. 1t emanates from the Populistic
spirit which received such flip a few
weeks ago
That is to say, the attacks upon the
trusts that bribe legislative bodies. that
use the machinery of justice TO harass
honest independence, that strew the fields
Of commerce with the wrecks Of mercan-
tile enterprises. that override all law
and threaten the very life OF Democratic
snstitutions--such attacks are Viruent
abuse OF capital. and an emanatlon Of the
"Populistic spirit"
No one will insult either the under
standing or the moral sense Of Mr.. ChOate
by accusing him OF personally believing
what he said. He was simply earning his
pay. But we wish TO enquire whore, If
at ali. - the line drawn in the legal code
between the lawyer and the man? Does
the fee buy part of the man part of the
time? Does It buy all Of the man part
OF the time? or does it buy all Of the
man all OF the time?
The case OF Mr. Oney-a most reputa-
BILE lawyer-would seem 10 indicate that
the fees OF corporations bind man into
perpetual servitude. This speech OF Mr..
Choatc's tends in the same direction. And
we might site many other instances
II Is the habit TO send lawyers more
than another class TO legislative bodies.
10 make them judges and prosecuting
officers. 10 put them In all sorts Of po-
sitions of public trust. Can IL he that the
people have been laboring under such a
grave mistake? Can IL be that a big fee.
repeated at intervals. enslavcs all the
man all the time? Where is the line
drawn between the lawyer and the man?
or Is there no line?
This - after the usual fashion for abus-
ing lawyers. and Il. therefore. justihes
some analysis OF the case that il made.
Mr.. Choate said there was a great deal
in the iaw-books derogatory TO capital.
and that this emanates from the Popu-
iistic spiri, that was recently rebuked
by the American people.
The World claims that to be equivalent
TO euying that attacks on trusts that
bride legislative bodies. that use the ma
chnery Of Justice 20 harass honest in
dependence that strew the fields OF com
merce with the wrecks or mercantile en-
terprlses that override all law and
threatens the very life OF Democratic In
stitut.ons, are no more than virulent
abuse OF capital and an emanation OF
the Populistic spirit. But that is a plain
non sequitur. Mr.. Choate may be OF
opinion that there is much IN the law
books derogatory TO capital when ope-
rating In great bulk. and yet he may
entirely agree with the World in It's de-
nuAe,stien Of trusts that bribs isgisls-