The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-06-28
WEDNESDAY. JUNE Is, ls99.
THE LAW OF THE LAND.

In connection with the late attack made
on Judge Haight. OF tho Court Of New
York. and Senator Hhrs defense Of the
Judge we submitted some remarks In
general concerning the integrity o- our
judiciary. We are gratined TO see that
Acknowledgement John w. Griggs fol-
lowed much the same line I'm his address
the other day on the occasion Of the
ssventy-nfth anniversary Of the Yale
University Law school Mr.. Grisgs be-
gan by saying that the American cid-
zen was rare who was base enough, or
20 lacking in spirit of loyalty for our
institutions as TO impugn the honor or
integrity on the bench. Contrasting the
old times with the new. ne said that The
growth OF law during the century had
been an exhibition Of popular wisdom
and sound sense as al expression of the
best instincts Of humanity. trying 20 ate
tain tho goal Of perfect justice, based
upon the moral and religious sentiments
Of the times, tending always towards its
own uplifting and perfection as the moi-
lifying influence of ease, comfort and
contentmont were increasingly felt among
the people.
In contraventi0n OF the statement so
often made by demagogues that the law
is for tho rich and not for the poor
he declared that equal justice is not only
the blrthricht Of every citizen. bun that
the tendency Of justice I'm this civilized
age Is towards the side OF tenderness and
the mitigation of every degree Of unnec-
esary human misery "lt is not the pow
erful OF rich" said he in this connection,
"but the poor and the helpless. the wild
ow and the orphan or whom the law is
specially careful About tho weak 10
thows its broadest shield and against
them Il makes the least Prescriptions
where life or liberty or property a.e in
volyed."
We asa in AN candor IL this IN rot the
fae.? What man IS there in the State Of
Virginia. be- he never SO humble and OBJ
sclise. who fears 20 lay "a just cause De-
fore a jury Of his peers, before any judge
on the Virginia bench IN days Of old
the wrongod widow could get justice only
by her importantly" The unjust
judge" heard her case and avenged her
OF her adversary" not because he feared
God or regarded man, but because the
Importantly Of the widow wearied him
and ne gave her justice in am
EFFORT 10 get rid OF her. But
Is II necessary in these days that
a widow shall be "importunate" in order
that she may find the willing car Of
Virginia judge? She has only 90 state
her case and bring the proof that she
has been unjustly dealt with. in order 90
ind IN the exponent OF the law a friend
and a champion who win uphold an her
rights.
Mr. Grlgs showed that this could not
be otherwise seeing that II SIS not tho
rich or the powerful who administer tho
law, but that our Judges are taken from
the ranks az the bar-choscn for their iu-
tegrity their learning and their high
sense OF baskerville our juries are
taken from the ordinary ranks Of life
the average man IN education. in intel
lgenco and IN opinion. "And thus IL is,
no added. "ihat our Jurisprudence IS in
the hands OF the people. II Is their sys-
TEN exercised for their protection ana adj
ninistered through their agency And
he cllnched the nail with This very strong
statement: Possessions may BIO unequal
but rights are equal and It D. this that
makes the law respected and revercd."
II Is indeed refreshing TO read after
such a man. There IS delay I'm she law
and there are qulbblos by which the
guilty 20 sometimes unwhlpt Of justice,
but while the guilty sometimes escape
II Is rarely n ever that the innocent are
punished our system OF laws are nee
essarily imperfect. and sometimes the law
works a hardship. but this is never de-
slgnedly so. 1t IL the honest purpose Of
.he law that equal and exact Justice be
accorded 20 ali. that every human rirht
be protected, and the man who would be
hola enough 10 approach Virginia. sntge
with a bribe would DO 20 al the peril Of
his life.
rbe.e things are great comfort aud
~~r~~isfkon 10 thoes who live In Tits en-