The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-12
AN INsoLENT pULPrTEER.
Few Remarks Concerning an In
judiciOUs indianapolis Minister.

washington POSt.
An indianapolis clergyman made bitter
attack in a SQ-called sermon last SUNDAY ON
ex-President Harrison for appearing as
counsel for Street-railway corporation in
Can any one imagine, asked the reverend
gentleman, the president OF a street rail-
ROAD whose actual value IS 2,COo,0Oo but
whose watered stock and bonds have a
value of $9000.000 approaching George
Washington and offering him 81, 900 TO JUS
tify the greed of the corporation and defend
its iniquitous actions from the common peo-
plauded
II General Harrison were an aspirant for
an elective office il might be injuIi cious for
MN to exercise his undoubted legal and
moral right TO serve corporation. Sor there
are many voters who nave blind.
unreasonlng. indiscriminating prejudice
against corporation lawyer. But. as Gen.
Harrison has filled the highest position 10
which the voting citizens of the United
states can elect one of their number-nled
II with distinguished honor to his country
ms state, his city and bimself-it ought not
70 De deemed either politically or morally
lnJudlclous for him to practice his profess
SION IN ms own city. No lawyer OF this or
1iy past generation has ever been more
cafefully and conscientiously regardful OF
legal ethics than Mr.. Harrison. That a
man or his attachments and achievements
cannot follow his aNocation in his town
cannot 90 what thousands of Christian
gentlemen have done and are doing IN peace
ana honor-Without being insulted from the
pulpit is fact that will not be set down to
the credit OF Indianapolis.
TINS indianapolis street-railway fight on
winch General Harrison is retained is the
rJgnt 81 sac, or the reverse 1t is COM
Pucated case, a controversy between fed
eral and state Jurisdictions Undoubtedly
the popular feeling is against the corpor-
atlon and In favor of the Scent fare. What
the final determination of the matter NAV
be we will not undertake to guess But Il
defeat of the corporation in the court Of
last resort will not be a reflection on the
professional character or personal integrity
OF its attorneys. Just so long as a lawyer
conforms his acts TO the ethics Of his pro-
Iesslon he gives no valid ground for oRense.
IN every lawsuit there are two sides one
OF which is bound To be declared wrong,
ana that decision has to be accepted. The
opposing Htigants and their counsel differ
as 10 the meaning and effect of law IL
one side happens to be popular and the 9TH
er is eXecrated by the masses, that fact
does not determine which is right. And IT,
When the end Is reached, the finding COIN
no condemnation Of those who have exer-
cised only their lawful rights in trying to
secure a different result.
Even the murderer who pleads guilty is
not, as a rule, sentenced without a trial.
II such defendant has no coun-
sci the court assigns one or more law
yers to his defense. II is the duty of tho
court to see that even confessed MUIR
derer shall have every advantage that the
law gives him. But we do not hear min
listers in their pulpits denouncing attor-
neys for defending malefactors either by
assignment of the courts or under pay OF
the defendants.
The Indianapolis parsons allusion to
George Washington was very infelcitous.
The father of his country was not 4
lawyer, and there Were few corporations
in his time, so that we cannot tell how
he would have treated the tender OF
fee from a president of a corporation.
We can be pretty certain, however that
Washington would have despsed a min
lister of the gospel for insulting a private
citizen. either iE or out of his Pulpit. And
this reference to the most reVeled char
acter in our history reminds US that about
all the clergymen in the United States
united N IN rri-
son administration and several success
sive congresses to put the brand of in
fanny a practice that George Wash
ingtOn and about all the good men of his
time approved. Times change and men
change with them Perhaps this minis
ter Will share in the mutations of coming
years and finally learn that he earned
reproof. not applause when he attacked
his distinguished townsman and Christian
brother