The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-01-05
LAW AND LAWYERS"
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/ controversy No finer tribute can he
paid the people than their obedience
20 law. After angry .ispute has
/ spent its force OF wrought its baleful
Influence IN violence ans blood. the
law is invoked A judicial proceeding
is had. Evidence Is heard AMI in de
cent and orderly manner nm inyestiga.
tion is conducted by hose learned in
the law. and accustomed to its exposi
tioa and administration. which solemn
( dntv is approached and pen formed
without passion. lrt Will reason, and
a sense Of Justice: then calmly from
the bench grayely and with becom.
ing dignity, the Judge declares the
low Of he natter. and all submit or
at mcsi dissent by peaceful aad Law
ful appeal II is the end. It must be
for a civilized reonle We are told
with a Latin maxim, that lin time ot
wal the laws are sileut" True. the
mandates OF the law may be drowned
by the roar Of cannon. and law mas
be silent while men get (druniA with
ulcod tc vouit crime" but at the end
of battle comes the treaty of eeace-
a law OF high sst legal obligation. The
loiN Of life compels it Surely the
majesty Of the law" is no high sound.
ing, empty phrase. Without i,. by
strange and fatal atavism. We would
revcri 70 the troglody-e. and enthrone
again the god OF arawn With its hui
mGnity enlightens he earth and ful-
fills its destiny It's course aad prog
ress and triumph has been slow and
tortuous. but sure. moving with an ir.t
resist!5le momentum ih Accordance
with the law of human progress. and
with losical certainty 30 its full fruit
tion in the s9icnd1. Of tho twentieth
century, Tho law of Flood and re.
yense IAN eve for an eye and
tooth Tor tooth" is gone forever; ard
the purpose Of ho law is nu longer
vengeance but iefornn. The old quo
tation Whose sheddeth mans blood.
by man also shall his blood be shcd.
though quoted Yet occasionally by
jealous prosecutors, is diminished In
force. or at least has ceased to be an
infallirle ~ule changeless as ths
laws cs .he Medes and PeFsians. We
have learned 10 modify tho seventies
of the lew. IN accoi dance with tha
spirit of Christianity, which, though
the narrowness of creeds may abate
and the ancient sternness relax. still
iea"ea the law with not only undi-
miniShea but with increased power.
And the law n its progress has be.
come more democratic more impair
tial l. no longer leaN es the lord
immune. and brings his william to the
lash and block. bat its prohibitions
and penalties are against all.
And yet. liberal. humane, Just and
comprehensive as the law is today, IL
cannot be perfect and the time will
come when in the development of hui
manity those who folIcw us, seeing
with clearer vision AMI aided by larg-
er experience, will improve on the
work of the present day. Rat cestain
it is that even now the Law is the
strongest bulwark of our civilization
When statutes are oppressive or un.l
constitutional. when questions Of hui
man rights and property rights Arc
all awFy and in confusion, Nhea press !
ing emergencies are pending. Ihe last
resort is the courts. where almost
without exception a Just Judge Is
found to hear. interpret and decree,
r. he he not Just and learned, with
breadth of MINI, comprehensive grasp
and unfailins courage: or worse. If
he be weak or corrupt woe be tai
society-for OF all the evils thar beset /
II the worst aad most dangerous is
weak or rotten Judge
And now from law to lawyers
from the material to the personnel !
Aud IN the hasty review which | shall
make Of The gentlemen of the bar. :.
trust there shall occur nothing libel
Gus. false or defanatory.
There are lawyers and lawyers-le.
me amend by saying lawyers Gnd al
legged lawyers. With the allegation
often defective and misleading For
the lawyer who loves his profession
for It's own sake, comprehending It fof
what it is, a science. devoted to il.
studious OF IT, aud eyer willingeto serve
his jealous Mistress" the highest
conmendat,on would 90 inadequate.
But then there are others; Iazyl
men. who take up The law becausc
they think it easy and in It they
can become gentlemen Of elegant leis-
IRE: men Who want to be lawyers /