The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-28

fringement worked hardship or not, the
law was invaded and that was vital.
There are those who remember the
| thrill If excitement North and South
caused by the 'Dred Scott decision. Think
of this great country being stirred to its
depths by a legal decision. 1t is true
| that the entire people were excited over
| the question of slavery, and it is also
true that there were some fanatics on
either side of this question, but behind
all that, and deeper down came the legal
sense. l know the question of slavery
stirred the passions of men for years,
and that history tells us our terrible
civil war arose from the differing views
On this topic, but to great extent 1 be-
lieve that our terrific contest would never
have been fought, if this had been all.
It seems to me that our splendidly brave
men on both sides fought because they
believed that the United States Consti-
tuition and it's proper construction was
involved
Three wars in less than one hundred
years each fiercely contested by the
American people to sustain what was be-
lieved by them to be the law. Law hav-
ing such hold upon our people as that,
does it not appear self-evident that they
should be trained intelligently to COM
prehend the general principles of our
Jurisprudence, so that they may not act
blindly: And the gaining of such COM
prehension carries with it so much else
that is valuable in the formation of the
character of the citizen, that it seems
difficult to understand why NE do not
insist upon some such training for every
| man, woman and child in the community
In the first place, there is nothing that
will train the mind better than the study
of certain legal topics. When such
subject as contract is treated on the in
Guctive method, it is certain to strengthen
| the reasoning powers, to develop the ca
pacity for clear thinking The majority
of people never think clearly.
1--WE have reached period in our ma
| tional development which causes anxiety
to many thoughtful men. What lies be-
fore us and how are our problems to be
solved Any observant person can see
that our form of government is gradually
changing in its essence, that our people
are altering their character of thought
upon political questions.
THE general citizen is clearly inter-
ested then in the legal education of it's
upon the increasing power and influence
OF that other class of our citizens, our
women? / believe that women acting to-
gether can accomplish anything they wish
in this country, and I furthey believe
that they will exercise this power, more
and more in the near future These citi-
zens of growing influence and power are
| naturally conservative, but they need the
farming which such study as the law
| can give them, and need it more than the
| men. This is not said with any reference
to women entering the profession but
simply with regard to their general edu-
cation and the legal training of such
women is of vital interest to the general
country. Women must be reckoned with
as new force in active life.
Keen observers tell us that our form
of government is gradually changing, that
while outward forms remain the same the
essence of Democracy is leaving us. 1t
is suggested that we are losing our great
respect for the Constitution, and our ma
tional reverence for law. Each failure
to follow the law blunts the sense of the
people Just so much, and men look about
in surprise to find that the people in
stead of being aroused and intensely ex-
cited over any breach of our laws by
those in official positions, seem to be
utterly Indifferent to them. That there
is danger in this is very true. although
1T is probably a passing phase in no
real sense indicative OF the deep UNDER
current of law reverencing manhood
which exists all over the nation.
1.-The welfare of the citizen is also
deeply concerned in this question of
legal education from another standpoint.
1t is not generally understood what
great power is vested in our judiciary and
some discriminating person has said that
this is Judge ruled country. This fail
ure to comprehend the power of the ju-
dietary arises from the splendid charac-
| ter of the men who have sat upon our
bench throughout the country, and from
the conservative, conscientious and cour-
ageous administration of their duties,
which has 70 a great extent saved us
from the evils of such unrestricted pow
| ers.
| 1T is indeed a rare thing in the his
| tory or our country to find a corrupt
Judge, but other weaknesses are some
| times found which are much to be de-
plored III one holding such a responsible
| position. Sometimes there is an utter
| lack or judicial temperament and when
| this happens to be joined with slender
knowledge of the foundation principles
and theories of our law, the result is
| lamentable.
Then there is another style of Judge
whose coarse, and ignorant buffoonry
| makes a farce of justice and who is
| dubbed by some in the profession as the
| Court Jester"
THE lawyer who loves his profession
| may well feel deeply greved that such
| men find their places on the bench. but
| it is the citizen who suffers the evil re-
suits and he must clearly understand
these dangers if he is to preserve his
freedom intact. Thank God there are
few such judges, but the fact that there
| can be one or two men of that character
| on the bench indicates the danger spot
and should warn us in time
There are dangers in other directions
from an ill-adyiSed use of their mowers