The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-30

The National Theatre last night was gay
win Tags aru bunting. and the stage was
brilliant with the roses of May in honor
of the commencement exercises OF the
Law School and the School OF Comparative
Jurisprudence and Diplomacy of the Co.
lumbar University. The Marine Band
was present to enliven the occasion with
classical patriotic, and popular airs
a few minutes after S O'Clock the the
atre was filled with the relatives and
friends Of the graduates, who were in
fever of expectancy for the exercises to be-
gin. Presently the acting president of the
university. Rev. Samuel II. Greene, ID. D..
attended by the members of the faculty,
Hon. John W. Griggs. few invited guests.
and the members Of the graduating ciasses
in law and diplomacy, filed upon the stage
and took the seats assigned to them.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Teunis S.
Hamlin. D. D.. followed by the intermezzo'
"Cayalleria Rusticana.'' rendered by
the Marine Band.
Attorney General GrigEs' Address.
Hon John W. Griggs. the Attorney Gen.
eral of the United States. was then an
nounced who delivered the address of the
evening on THE Dignity and Sanctity of
the Law" Mr.. Griggs said. in part:
These young men are to be congratu-
lated on having finished the curriculum
of study prescribed by the university and
upon having won the degrees to which
they are entitled. The gentlemen of the
faculty are to be congratulated that after
another year of faithful labor they have
completed their instruction to these young
men and now send them forth equipped
for the noble profession which they have
elected to follow. The faculty have given
to those graduating classes the full meas
ure of their learning and experience. They
have impaired logic. truth, principle, and
have given impetus and inspiration to
these young minds.
Il am not here to add anything to that
teaching. 1t has been made complete and
full rounded. and nothing that could say
here would increase the sum of knowledge
or clear the clouds Of doubt / am here
rather to speak of the value of the law to
the average citizen. The average Ameri-
can knows enough law. or thinks he
knows enough to lay down the rule of
conduct for the whole community, and
where he is lacking this knowledge is
usually supplemented by that of his better
half Blackstone said that some knowl-
edge of the law was essential to the per-
fornance Of public duty by the cultured
and the wealthy. Such he said, are often
called upon to serve as jurors or magis-
trates, or even to enter Parliament, and
it was the opinion Of the great jurist that
a knowledge of certain fundamental prin-
ciples of law, such as those pertaining to
lease. rental. banking. real estate con-
yeyance, mortgage. and notes were essen
tial to the-ordinary man Of affairs
The environment of the American tends
to make him conversant to a greater or
lesser degree with law. He is a politician,
and learns by practice the underlying prin-
ciples of government representation and
legislation. The courts are educators and
the citizen serving as grand or petit juror
learns the forms Of law, the nature of evil
dence. and the machinery of justice He
imbibes the spirit of the law, and ac-
quires noble respect for the judge whom
he venerates.