Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-07
LAW EXHIBIT INTERESTING
Department Of Justice Shows Some Rare Old
Works of Legal Lore.
PORTRAITS or THE ATTORNEYS GENERAL
Records of Early Trials for Heresy
and Treason Among the Many
Articles of Historic Inter-
est showns

In the exhibit OF the Department OF JUSTICE
In the Government building the portraits Of
che attorneys general OF the United States,
painted in oil by the best foreign and native
artists, are artistically grouped on a DARK
maroon background.
The beautiful figure Of Justice, which or
naments the large column commanding the
entrance to the exhibit, was originally de-
signed by Major Frank Strong, U. S. A., the
representative of the department on the gov
eminent board. A woman OF classic features
and graceful pose holds in her left hand a
pair Of golden scales evenly balanced. In
her right hand is an unsheathed sword. Her
eyes are blindfolded; a wreath of golden hair
falls over her shoulders; her Greek robe OF
blue and white is draped in rich folds about
her lissome form. An effective group OF
American flags borne on golden tipped, ar
row-headed STATS. forms a background for
this emblem OF justice. At her feet is the
magnificent seal Of the Department of Jus
tice held in a heavy frame Of gold. This seal
is the American eagle standing on o divided
shield, one part composed of the white and
red stripes of our national flag. while the
other is a dark blue field emblazoned with
golden stars; in one claw the eagle holds
an olive branch, in the other a bunch of ar
rows. In letters of gold the motto, "Qui pro
domino ~justitia sequitur" holds the shield in
an arc of the circle which surrounds the en-
tire design and encloses a field in which the
tints of sunrise are admirably blended.
Many Rare Old Books.
The rare old books in the cases, which are
always open to the inspection of the cultured
people interested in the exhibit, are a rare
treat to the judges and lawyers who visit the
exposition. The Plaudits of Justinian, writ
ten in old Latin. the Frederician code, the
laws of Mohamet, the state trials for heresy
and high treason in Great Britain from the
reign of Richard ii to George III, the first
edition of Blackstone published on the
American continent, the charters OF the
states of Pennsylvania and Maryland from
Charles ii to William Penn and Lord Balti-
more respectively, the colonial laws of the
thirteen original states, are a few OF the
legal treasures to be seen and read for the
asking.
The custodian is always there to be of
service in explaining the exhibit, in trans
lating any language contained in the books,
or to point out in brief the most striking
parts in the historical law papers such as
the trial of the archbishop of Canterbury for
high treason and heresy, the Guy Fawkes
conspiracy or gunpowder plot, the trial OF
Mary, Queen of Scots, Charles |, Sir Walter
Raleigh, Earl of Essex, etc.
Major Frank Strong has just sent from
Washington autograph letters of Abraham
Lincoln, James Buchanan, U. S. Grant and
other presidents in which they
pardon to criminals whose circumstances or
good behavior gave reasons why justice
should be tempered with mercy. In a few
days the portraits of all the chief justices
of the United States and a number of the
associate justices are expected.
NH o-1ll;t 80 Tho nano ~ =, ont IF Jncfino
is not a large one. but it appeals peculiarly
to the taste of cultured people. A man
cannot fail to learn many valuable things In
the hour or two spent in the niche over
which the emblem Of justice presides.
Follow WRshinEton's Advice.
1t is considered fitting, at this exposition,
conceived and carried out on a plan of in
creasing and diffusing knowledge among
men, that there should be as one of it's
main attractions an exhibit from the Smith
sonian institution and National museum.
Having as its motto and shield For the In
crease and Diffusion of Knowledge Among
Men, this exhaustive and comprehensive
exhibit will be found to the right Of the
main door of the Government building as
you go in and is one of the most interest
ing features Of the Government building.
When George Washington, in 1896, said:
fTOIlOtt, as an OBJECT Oh primary lmpOT-
lance, institutions for the increase and diff
fusion of knowledge; in proportion as the
structure of a government gives force to
public opinion, it is essential that public
opinion be enlightened" he had no con-
ception of the extent to which the United
States would grow or the various ways
taken to diffuse knowledge.
Thirty years after an Englishman named
Smithson, never having been in America,
but knowing of its struggles and admiring
the principles of it's foundation, put this
clause in his will: II bequeath the whole
OF my property to the United States of
America to found at Washington an estab-
lishment for the increase and diffusion of
knowledge among men," He, too, could have
no idea of the ways to be taken to spread the
gospel of knowledge. His fortune has rem
dered 1t possible to found an institution in
Washington, and from there has gone out
TO every museum in the world and exposi-
tion OF note part Of the accumulated treas
ures and distinctive features for the benefit
of mankind, Our United States government
has been liberal in the matter of appropria-
lions for the eXpositions held in other coun-
tries as well as our own.
Covers u broad Field.
The Smithsonian institution and National
museum covers so broad a field, as the
chief exponent Of scientific thought In Amer
ica. that a few words as to it's inception
and operation should be given to the read
ers of The Bee. The Smithsonian %institu-
tlon Is to many but q name, few know of
its wide-reaching work. There Is no rea-
son known why Smithson, a foreigner,
should bequeath his immense fortune to the
United States for scientific research. His
will was bitterly fought by relatives, but In
1898 the United States won the suit, and
with wise Investments, augmented by be-
quests from other philanthropic men, the
institution now has a permanent fund OF
nearly 81, 900, 900 in the United States treas
ury, drawing interest at 6 per cent per
annum.
The successful organization of the insti-
tuition has been the result Of long continued
effort on the part of men of unusual ability
and wisdom. Prof, Joseph Henry, who gave
the world the electro magnetic telegraph.
Prof. Spencer #. Baird, than whom there Is
no higher authority on the mammals, birds
and fishes of America and founder of the
United States commission of fish and fish
cries; and Prof. Samuel Pierpont Langley
~pre-eminent physicist and astronomer
these are names high in the annals OF
Americas learned men and each has
given the best years of his life to the up.