Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1896-01-17
THE COURT AND THE BAR.
To the Editor of the New Mexican.

To the Editor of the New Mexican.
Albuquerque, Jan. 13.-I desire at this
time, upon the above theme, to add few
reflections and look backward e few short
years for the purpose Of Illuminating the
subject little and letting the public
Judge of actions in such serious matters.
Now that the time for sober second
thought has arrived reflection or two
upon an event occurring at Albuquerque
during the past month may help some of
our New Mexico citizens to get their
bearings right. do not desire to mag
nifty the Importance of the recently lib
Grated editor of the Albuquerque Citizen,
or to intimate that believe he has en-
dured in any respect martyrdom for prin-
ciple, because the said editors antics and
doings place him In his proper sphere as
submissive tool and not the wearer of
the imperishable crown, but considera-
tion of the demonstration made at the
end of his expiation of the judgment of
our highest court may, I think, develop a
practical inquiry or two, and show that,
though comparisons are commonly es-
teemed odious, they may serve "to point
a moral or adorn tale"
The gentlemen of the legal profession
seek to impress upon candidates for ad-
mission into their ranks and upon the
younger brothers of the profession, that
the highest and most sacred duty they
owe to themselves and to society is due
respect for the adjudications of the trib-
| n a Ia THAI kn hat
While they may assert that the respect
yielded the courts by some classes is
servile, that yet the high-minded lawyer
feels that such respect is test of profess
sional standing, and no insult to profess
sional honor is keener than to intimate
or assert of gentleman of the legal pro-
fession that his obedience to judgments
and DEGREES stands upon the same plane
"as he who fl els the halter draw"
The personnel of the court has nothing
to do with question of this kind, if per-
chance judge who is Objectionable dis
penses judgments and decrees. The
high-minded lawyer, We have learned to
believe. says, II am bound by my oath
and profession to uphold the courts"
We must confess our ideas on this sub
jeot have of late received something of a
set back.
Being native of this territory and
having spent my entire life within its
borders, have witnessed occasions
where the proceedings of the courts
caused intense feeling among the people
at large, both because the questions were
of a political character and because of
the severity of measures taken against
prominent citizens and members of the
New Mexico bar, as witness the time
when ex.Chief Justice Vincent and other
lawyers we're imprisoned fer contempt
and when Don Pedro Delgado suffered a
like punishment. Feeling ran high, and
many of our people felt that the courts
were ruthlessly violating private rights,
but the members of the legal profession,
whatever they felt as lawyers, kept the
even tenor of their way and did not
agitate some people to denounce the
courts. Neither was resort of that
kind had when three officials and an at
torney we're imprisoned in 1894.
What exceptional circumstances re-
Gently existed to make presumably
reputable members of the legal profes.
sion so far depart from their usual GUS
tom and propriety?
If the cause of such departure from
accustomed paths was justified in the
Hughes case, why then has the whole
matter disappeared ''like snowflake in
the river, moment seen then gone for
everf"
The very fact that such an intense and
all pervading calm has succeeded, seems
of itself some proof that these learned
gentlemen have placed themselves in an
attitude scarcely to be enviel.
Right thinking people may reflect upon
this question in calm and dispassionate
manner. NATIVE.