New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-28


the auditorium Of Hendrie Hall being crowded
TO the doors The three speakers all members Of
the graduating class, were John Harold Sears. Of
St Louis Horace Jewell Fenton Of Will
mantle. Conn, and William Jefferson Wynn OF
Eatonton. Ga Mr. Root delivered the address
The graduating class some Duties Of Ameri-
can Lawyers to American Law
He said:
,a IN this country Of common opportunity for
CepIoaaI success no career opens so many and such
saEled pathways to great usefulness and 10 fame
djton9 JuLe as does that Of the lawyer. The con-
out the emoluments. honors responsibilities ana
ton for pubic Office which results from the va
nro}s OF a laTyers experience and training. The
70 nigh office, not merely upon the bench but in
the legislative and executive branches OF govern
In all these relations the lawyer can If he will
exercise powerful influence over the thought ana
sentiment OF his community To be a lawyer work
ing Tor fees Is not to be any the less citizen
whose s unbought service is due TO his community
IF eq be his country with his best and constant effort
ring false the courts and viii fail TO carry con
viGtion TO judicial minds
to the justice and expediency OF the law it soon be-
comes poweress and ineffective When, in the
course Of time. the moral standards OF a community
| change laws which have once satisfied the moral
commence regarding the system which has grown
up IN England and America is that It IS better
adapted to our ideas and ways Of thinking ana
AGING than any other system.
No part Of the duties imposed upon the gov
eminent Of the United States in the exercise of
Treaty OF Paris. with their millions tnha bitants
called for more study and consideration than the
Of the islands had If1-ej sbo,5ld bs banged or mod
| fed under the new authority. a careful study Of
inc subject soon led TO the conclusion that these
| municipal law far better adapted to their needs
Tor our own conduct Certain constitutional prlH-
clples needed TO be established: the laws relating
to crimes and punishments and the methods OF
S[lnlnat procedure which had been adopted ana
had been used for purposes of oppression needed
which regulated the relation OF people 10 each other
was tar better ior them than any we coIlG
properly left substantially unchanged.
COMMON SENSE FOR WORKOUT RULES.
In all this field Of the regulating the relations
! Of citizens 10 each other the proper function OF
the lawyer is TO promote rational progress 10
maintain stability against all fads and crude ia
| velopment of the law moving with equal step
ABREAST OF the progress OF the age satsiEing me
! conditions OF human life and activity Practical
The law always tends to become fossized; pro
phcated; eternal vigilance and ever recurring re-
| form the price of efficiency. The obligation 70
/ lead in these rests first upon the LAWYER We
need not concern ourselves especially about the
mere declarations Of the general principles oL i Jus
provisions designed 10 give to the private citizen
the practical benefit Of the general pr1aeiplTs
liberty and justice. and that we should hold 10
these is all important and essential
provisions Of law designed to secure TO th private
citizen the application OF the nfcia nowe
| been made 50 broad so effective and adequate
IN o the a d s1ra9 bY the AngqXon ideas Of
| Personal liberty and property rights.
LIMITATIONS OF OFFICIAL POWER
There Is one general characteristic Of our sys-
| it IS the special duty of lawyers 10 guard with
az - T Tlar oS is constant tendency to
| ignore such limitations. and eondone the trans
se 9r-I the nubIic such process If general is
| INJURIOUS. continued
in attitude Of personal superiority on ne part
| OF great officers. which is inconsistent with our
| institutions destruction Of responsibility and IN
and neglect Of the habit Of asserting legal rights
| on the part OF the people. . -
| In Office permitted to override the limitations
imposed by Jaw upon thelF powers; me i ib 20 10.
| and the people each enc weak in himself and
any questioning OF their acts as ar af1T9nt grad
ually lose the haolt OF noding suGh oHceFs a., s
ultimately TO hold them accountable Constant ac-
| of the limits imposed by law and custom and
| undoubtng assertion OF the priVaIe reI't OF LILc
cept in strict accordance with the letter and the
spirit Of the law-these the essential conditions
! OF free government and personal Independence.
THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC INSTINCT.
The exercise Of power not conferred by law may in
strain his liberty; but II weakens the ute TO eyery
mans property and INJURIES every mans H3erty,
tinued, would be destructive Of our free insutu-
Abundant evidence that our people have rot be
Indifferent 10 these necessary limitations IS
opponents impute disregard Of them to public ON
| GERS The charge s often unfounded and often
| made upon slight foundation with great exaggera-
ton But the fact that II IS made shows that
! political leaders recognize that IL they make
ths people believe that public officer has usurped-
power he will be condemned without regard 10 his
| horseback but extravagant appeals 70 an in
stnct which ought to exist, and happily does
/ exist. among against submission TO unlawful
authority, however trifng may be its exercise and
however benehcent its despotism
! The extravaganza and lack Of foundation for
| many Of these appeals. however involve the dan
ger lest the cry Of wolf should be heard so often
/ that men VIII become increduIous ana lnuiIeFent
/ and deaf 10 statements and proofs or
not for political effect. and thar mus lndlscrlIn
/ and unfounded charges against the lrnocent
No * well fitted the lawyer 10 ascertain
/ the limits OF official authority. and no one
can do so much as ne to form pVoc opinion PIN Ire, re
gardng this class Of questions upon me lIHeS
! not Of partisan political advantage, but Of indie
| pendent and impartial Judgment -.
You gentlemen who are about to enter upon the
profession OF law will strive for your clients IN
! many courts; but it will be your high privilege
to strive also for the law itself. in the great form
/ OF public judgment. There You may plead ror ne
perpetual life Of The great rules foT me Pr0.eGFh
/ tutions and which only the governing people can
| keep alive in our land
! After Mr. Root finished his address the judges
! announced that the Townsend prize had been won
| by William Jefferson Wynn Of Eatonton, Ca
! NAMES OF PRIzEwINNERs ANNOUNCED.
other prizewinners were then announced fol-
/ lows:
The Belts prize Of $50 for the highest marks
N the eHaInihaoIs 1870 ~ 60, rba IIaii
| prize OF $50 Walter Edward MONAGHAN. Of Water
| bury. Conn. and the third year prize or 30 Tor
excellence in the examinations or the year to VIII
| tam Jefferson Wynn. OF Eatonton. Ga. The Joseph
Parker prize OF MZe g Is PSI J IIiS on a sun
! Israel Nelson. Of LyndsDorE. Ran