The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-07
Mr.. Choate's Opportunity.

The Hon. JOSEPH HODGES CHoATB was
the guest Of price at the dinner Of the Chi
cago Bar Association. He spoke to the
toast sour Profession" and he celebrated
that profession with the enthusiasm Of a
man who has made a great name and q pile
Of money by the practice of 1t. It will be
noticed with some surprise In these parts,
where Mr.. CHoATE's excursions into Mug.
wumpia are so we'll known, that he praises
no past age of the American bar at the ex-
pense of the present:
I'VE hear sometimes that the American bar has
degenerated; that IL does not equal its predecessors
in power and character and influence; but this I
utterly deny. To the demands which each genera.
tion makes upon 10. It Is always adequate. Times
change and men change with them. The intense
pressure OF modern life and business leaves Its mark
upon our profession. as upon every other vocation.
What once could be said in three days must now DO
said in two hours; what once could DO done in .
month must now DO done in q day, and for one I do
not hesitate to say that for skill. efficiency. utility.
and power the service which our profession lends to
the community to-day has not been surpassed in any
former generation. Il must be So"
In the opinion of Mr.. CHoATE and the
rest of the Mugwump brethren, political
life and politicians are much worse thar
they used to be. They see a degeneration
and lamentablc falling off in the men who
now rise to public Office and power. They
almost weep over the degradation which
they affect to find in the Congress of to-day
as compared with the Congress of some i'm
aginary year never too exactly given.
How is 1t that public life has degen-
Grated; that the politicians of 1898 do not
equal their predecessors in power and char.
acter and influenced The bar is still the
main recruiting station of politics. How
can the politicians have degenerated IL
the lawyers haven't degenerated3 Can Mr..
CHoATB say2
One other passage in this Chicago address
seems to require an explanation from it's
distinguished author. Mr.. CHoATE said
with truth and force that the American bar
"has far outshone not only its brethren in
England, but those in every other country
of modern times, in its great share in the
conduct and shaping of public affairs" Mr..
CHoATE reminded his hearers that there
was still a great and grave task for the
friends of law to do:
But at all times, and especially in this our day,
great public duties await US. So long as the Supreme
Court exists to be attacked and defended-that sheet
anchor OF our liberties and Of our eminent
long as the public credit and good faith OF this great
nation is In peril. SO long Is the right of property,
which lies AZ the root OF all civil government, 10
secuted. and the three inaiienablo rights to life. to
liberty and the pursuit Of happiness. which the
Declaration OF Independence proclaimed. and the
Constitution has guaranteed alike against the action
OF Congress and Of the States. are in jeopardy, so
long will great public service be demanded of the
bar"
Fine words, Mr.. CHoATE! How does your
recent public action tend to make them
goodl Did you support the public credit
and good faith and the integrity of the
Supreme Court and the rights of liberty
and property when last year you helped
to hand over the immense power and
patronage of the municipal government of
New York to the Democratic partyG Are
you supporting those causes and those
rights, which you admit TO be In jeopardy,
when this year you give your influence and
the authority Of your name to the effort of
an liberated faction to hurt the Republi-
can party, by which, alone, those rights
and causes can be successfully defended
Fine words. Mr.. CHoATEl II you mean
them, you will cease to work and speak for
the triumph of what you fear and hate.
You will cease to regard the whims or the
grievances or the ambitions of . few sore
heads as more important than the strength
and unity Of the national Republican
party. now the sole bulwark against dis
order and disaster. You afe q lawyer, and
a good one. Stop working for the party of