Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-05
JOSEPH II. CHOATE.

ceived an ovation as he closed. He was
introduced in a neat speech by President
Follansbee, OF the Bar Association, and in
responding TO the toast spoke as follows:
Il maintain that in no other occupation
TO which men can devote their lives is there
a nobler intellectual pursuit, or higher
moral standard, than inspires and pervades
the ranks of the legal profession. do not,
OF course. mean to say that, among the
$1,000 lawyers whom the census counts in
our 100000 people. there is not much base
alloy-I speak of that great body of active
and laborious practitioners upon whom
rests the responsibility of substantial litiga-
tions and the conduct and guidance of inn
portant affairs; you will look in vain else
where for more spotless honor. more abb
.solute devotion. more patient industry, more
conscientious fidelity than among these
II am not unmindful of that ever-mooted
question how we can, with the strictest
honor, maintain the side that Is wrong,
and the suggestion that, as only one side
can be right. in every lawsuit we must half
the time be struggling for injustice But
that vexed question has long been settled
by the common sense OF mankind. 1t is
only out of the contest of facts and OF
brains that the right can ever be evolved
only on the anvil of discussion that the
spark of truth can be struck out.
I'VE love the law because, among all the
learned professions. il Is the only one that
involves the study and the pursuit of a
stable and exact science. Theology, 1t IS
true, was once considered an immutaoie
science. but how has II changed from age 10
age. and even from year to year. We were
bred 10 believe that everything and every
word within the four corners OF Holy writ
was absolutely inspired truth. But now
upon unhappy times have we fallen, in
which the props of our faith are being
hNocheo iroin uhuer US, uas ny ods.
Anu theh' as 10 Hieoisihe-how is prac-
uce ana ies theories succeed each o'hef IL.
RAPID reVoiution' SO that what were soou
methoos ana heaiiiis oosea anu Saving pre-
scIip'iohs sehera'ioii ago are no" con,
ueii'i'eu sS Poisohs anu ' iiosli uiis' anu al
..Aioanubi1e - 1bs oronon NJ or Ian nIe q nurs
,r, f.,ber rn,les void tho mart ,rbera the
Tan,t is a,d rreserres ,ba res, as II has
baon 6o,n,r for oantur;as and NO sra hrsy
.nnIvin, IN each new case ,s II .risas
the soma nr,rcInIos tho ..r,a r,,,.s q, r;rht
.n5 Iustiro Which bo,,a haor astoh,;Stod
tor 800, ,araro,,on. W. ,,ras.r,,, ,h.
real fr,,it snd throw away III. ripd rba
,ocbricaIi,io, which have TOO Ioro, a,,c,,,st-
od +ba Ior ,a,,n bo.r s,rin,d ,,,,,,. ona
,or, rilo Io,d p.rs,,sId o,,r i,doos ~, q,
.o,,,a Ger, oso Inv, common capSe ana ,ha
.o,sa of jrst;ca and IN. sops, or horor
u,bi,b gr tbair liyboS+ manifestation oop
s,t,rto tho roost o,,,i,ort and ,,aluablo iudi-
ci,I n,,I;.;os
Nv -. .,,,,,,;,,,o- .,o+ .ro ,,,o,,o,,,
bar has ,ereperatad nat If docs ,ot ennaI
80 40 80 - Ni-"'
It's predecessors IN power ana IN character
and influence; but this I utterly deny. To
the demands which each generation makes
rnou ,t IN 10 always ADEQUATE Times
- - ,r,
.ai'se' anu ii''ii ci"isS WIN 'tetti' Inc
intense pressure OF modern lie ana Dusl-
ness leaves Its mark upon our profession,
as upon every other vocation What once
couId be ssid in ,braa d,vs must non, ba
Ia 4. =. -. -. - -, =, -,
eaiu III '"o houis' "i'"' once couiu NC uoHe
IN month must now be dona III a day;
for skill. efficiency. utility and mower the
sar,-ics which o,,,. profossio,, Iends 20 tho
~ ~ ~
community to-uaE mas NOT peeh sufpdsseu
IN any former generation. 1t must be so.
There is one respect, / admit, In which
we have declined and which for ono
a. a,, 49,, - a,,I.t-.t e -,
uo sted,1 uepioie,'iie Iu''lN d'ioii Vi 'he
fraterhal ana social spirit among ourselves
has been almost abandoned, and it ought
to be revived and transmitted Iet us get
ou ,ba antartaiprnopt We on, on, or o,,r
- - 80 - ''' VI O"t
WIN "s VIC 80 alohs' iot we may rest
assured that, II we postpone the fun of
life until the work is done, it will never
come for IL will find uS az dry and dusty
.sso ,,,,,,,, ,,,,,o;, l. t,,,,,,;, g., , -
" ~ ''"Ii! t'i''''t'u'' p's' ".tH 'it'i d Wy
sse. so' trust mat we IN New YORK shall
initiate your example, and that this occa-
sion may be only the beginning of n real