The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-27
THE WORLD Is BETTER OFF.
ATTORNEY GENERAL GRIGGs ON AD-
pINCEs IN JTRISpRUDENCE.

a Strong Summary of the Changes Wrought
in the Nineteenth Century Laws Delays
Lessened-Gencrnl Respect for Courts
Tho Abolition of slavery and the Many
Changes in Procedure An Eloquent
Picture of the :" Good Lawyer"
New HAVEN. June 2G. The annual address
to the graduating class OF the Yale Law School
was delivered this afternoon to tho members
OF the class and many OF the alumni OF the
Yale Law School. who are In this city to attend
the Yale commencement exercises. by John W.
Griggs. Attorney General Of the United States
His subject was. Advances in Jurisprudence
in the Nineteenth Century" He said in part:
There may bc here and there persons OF
narrow observation or respondent tempera-
ment who. because all evils, all suffering, all
wrongs are not exterminated. will still insist
that the tendency OF humanity is downward.
that the condition of tho people all the while
grows worse instead OF better and that the
proper attitude OF tho mind in these latter
days should be one OF solemn sadness. be-
moaning everything that seems askew to their
ideas. and pronouncng judgment of condem-
nation and contempt against those who refuse
10 Join in the pessimistic dirge. But let any
person whose experience goes back for even
one generation compare eocial and economic
conditions at tina. time with those that prevail
now and he cannot fail to find that in nnumer-
able ways the general prosperity and comfort
OF the people have been UNNECESSARILY in
creased
Even the dry census statistics will prove
this; but more forchle to each ones mind will
be the results OF his own observation. Regard
the education. tho intelligence. the manner OF
living, the Improvement OF ordinary dwellings.
the food on the table. the clothes that are
worm the books that are read. the newspapers
that come every day. the shortened hours OF
labor. the holidays. the increase OF travel and
Visitaton. the extension to the masses Of the
privileges OF art the literature and science.
which but short time ago were obtainable
only by ths weathy-consider the extern
sion and improvement in all these things,
well in the scientific inventions
and appliances that tend to promote business.
improve manufactures, extend commerce and
create wealth. and everybo will admit with
out n moments hesitation that the people are
living better than in any other period OF the
worlds history. This is our judgment as to
the nineteenth century in this. its closing year.
The record is one of prodiEious growth and eI-
ransion. OF MULTIPLICATION in wealth and re-
sources and. above ALL Of amelioration in the
condition Of all classes Of people.
Wonderful have been the accomplishments
OF science OF invention. of discovery. and the
resultant dividends to the people have been
IN the form OF vast Increase IN material wealth.
age Of persona Ranpess ' ony those S' are
true gains in the words opinions which tend
Il 5ae ami % bef 81 the c9n2n 81
standard Of Individual comfort and happiness
has been raised by the operations OF this CEN
anywhere in any era OF the worlds history.
Let US review the course of Iurispru ience.
especially in America, and see whether that
department Of human government has kept
pace wit the genera GroGr@ss OF civilized So
tionized the means of internal communication
and made the uttermost parts OF the earth ike
mankind in every branch OF Industrial.
mensey to their wealth aud c"nVeaien 1"t
SmnstHn'ay eur ,r syste en- OF i1rspr,ndssnre
obeyeI and administered when the nineteenth
century first dawned. With 40 state l.egs!a-
ing; amending. suppiementnG AMI revising
and constantly issuing vast volumes OF new
the hSS on
English law which we inherited from the
seadast sysem sG use the q
our civil rights and Liberties 49,,
the better. some. perhaps. for the worse. Most
OF then have been in procedure rather than in
The matter Of subst1nce or principle. There
has been vast acceleration of legal process
from summons to execution that Is in keeping
with the more rand business requirements OF
the times. The retincmcnts and complications
OF practice both in the law and chaucery courts
which formerly proloPssd to un[easonabi,es
ha than to fly to others that they Knew not ' o.
and expe iitious courses Of procedure whereby
justice has boon made not only more certain.
fidcnce in the courts and adding Immensely to
the respect and authority inspired by a system
Il II we could recall some lawyer of the old
days, some ancient sergeant or beneher OF the
bar in one Of our modern courtrooms to observe
the trial Of ease. he would recognize the
% H9d EsSSebt ,se mana PrnSPs
ago. He would note. however a decreased obs
sery9 1I Of torn and ceremony N more rapid
essence OF the case. and would learn that
many ancient rules OF procedure. once sup
posed necessary for the protection of litigants
ard the attainment OF lust Judgment;
have been supplanted by more liberal and
straightforward methods under which the adj
speedy. and satisfactory results; He would
concerning tho law Of evidences by which the
testimony Of the parties and those Interested
potent ara now abolished and every one per
mitted to testify freely. leaving it to the Court
matter. 20 weigh and decide how the interest Of
the witnesses a. well as their bias, their part-
report the truth should affect the judgment or
." ii he would inquire as to the nature OF the
changes that have been made both in the prin-
ciples OF the law and IN tho mode OF procedure
ne would Doubtless 10 struck with one remark.
credit upon cur jurisprudence and sneak 8
most eloquenty OF the merc!ful tendency Of
learn that ali the Old clements OF cruelty, ex-
cessive rgor and judicial Cypress ion that used
and merlcan law have been removed in the
interest OF broader and a more humane JUS
tee which refuses to intlict undeseryed or
cruel suffering upon either the criminal or the
unfortunate debtor.
This century has witnessed the practical
abolshment OF the evils and horrors Of poor
debtors prisons Out OF more refined spirit
OF humane sympathy, under the modifying in =
fuences of general prosperity ana n larger
average OF personal comfort among tho popu-
latlon, came an intolerance OF the idea that any
one guiltless OF crime or fraud should lose his
liberty merely because Of his poverty or mis-
fortune. Those who are familiar through lit
erary works with the ptifu condition OF those
confined in the poor debtors prisons OF Great
Britain must not assume that such system
America have always been free from similar
reproach. Such is not the case. On the contrary.
until about the end Of the first half OF the