Evening journal., 1901-12-03
.MR. BYRNB TALKS
TO LAW STUDENTS
Urges Members Of Academy
to Pursue Learning
With Diligence

A largely attended meeting of the
Law Academy of Delaware was held
last evening, with President lsen-
in the dhair. The academy de-
cided TO hold a special session on the
third Monday i'm January and arranged
the following interesting program to be
presented at that time: Address by
President Isenschmidt; "The Colonial
Courts of Delaware" Horace G. East
burn; induction into office of provost
and vice-provosts, with addresses by
each; THE orney-Generals of Della
ware" John w. Brady
MR.. BYRNE DELIVERS ADDRESS
After the transaction of routine busi-
ness, Mr. Byrne, in delivering an in
troductory lecture. said, in part:
1T is the record OF history that the
cup of hemlOck was administered TO
Socrates on a charge that he corrupted
the youth of Athens. But Socrates would
not be dissuaded from his mission of
teaching by the imputation of false
motives, and the world yet enjoys the
benefit of that sublime corruption. A
friend Of mine, writing in the Sunday
Star, Who. though a master in the art
Of covering controversy with the cloak
.of courtesy, yet, like another Robert
Of Sicily, makes one feel that his vel
vet scabbard bears a sword of steel
saw fit to join the enterprise of the
Law Academy with some of the fierce
contests now raging in Delaware poll
tics. To me it is a joy and a delight
that no such union. in fact. exists.
While | would not for a moment dis
'suade any one of you from doing your
full duty to your fellOwmen by taking
a lively interest in every question af-
fecting the public good, and solving
every political duty confronting you
according to The best light of your i'm
ltelligence and the dictates of your con-
science, we are more particularly inter
ested in The work Of the Law Academy
in discharging the debt due from each
of us to the cause Of pure learning and
high achievement. Without flattery, ]
can say that you come from the best
families Of the State, that the blood Of
our best people runs in your veins
that we look TO you to sustain in The
yeans to come tine honor of a State
which from the foundation of the Re
public has played a distinguished part
in the nations history. You aspire
for distinction in a profession which
in every State in the known world has
! through the energy and talents of its
members made vast contributions tC
the public veal Rest assured THAI
your work viii be we'll done only ac-
cording to the zeal with which you pur.
sue leOrning, and the vigOr with which
you spurn base and ignOble conduct
The interests of the bar cannot bl
promoted by the presence of drOnes
nor can the base-minded add to uh,
llustre of our class. In a humble wal
the Law Academy of Delaware devote
itself to the mission of promoting th,
highest type of professional learning
and civic conduct And the hour il
ripe for the mission.
The American nation stands unriv
lalled in material greatness and in tn
lofty character of her citizenship II
a peculiar sense the continuance 0
our country's greatness depends not ol
a people good but stupid, nols a peopl
bad, but brilliant; but on a people O
keen intelligence, guided by the ligh
of an upright conscience. The mem
ory of a Mckinley is enough to shoy
you what lasting benefits come to on
country through the work of a goo
man in a high place; and today tn
public life of the nation is fashione
by man whose nome is a synonym
for vigorous learning and exalted con
duct Whether on the wilds of a West
ern ranch or following the delights @
the chase with the cougar hound:
whether in the solitude of his stud
penning the exploits of a Cromwell, O
writing his essays on civic morality
whether on the tented field fghtin
the wars of his country, or on tn
hustings in bold advocacy of Tigh
: principles of government, Theodor
- Roosevelt, the scholar Presiden
= stands for snap. energy. efficiency, me-
rality and intelligence"