Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-11-01
LAWYERS AND oUR PUBLIC LIFE
Integrity of the Profession n vaIua.
BILE Asset.

Integrity of the Profession n VaIuas
BILE Asset.
Justice ID. ]. Brewer in the Atlantic.
Without stopping for statistics, which
have been so often colated, II is enough to
say that in the public life of his country the
lawyer has been a conspicuous factor. The
judiciary, Of course, is altogether COM
posed of members Of the profession. In
executive offices and legislative halls the
law has predominated and still predoml-
mates over every business and all other
professions. Yet the public life of this
country has been OF the highest character.
Acting for the public, as the lawyers have
done in these various fields Of oflcial labor,
they have proved true to their employ
ment, and It may safely be said that the
scandals which have sometimes been found
in official life have seldom attached to
them. How can this be accounted for ex-
cept upon the theory OF a general personal
integrity? 1t Is no sufficient explanation to
say that although the great mass of he
profession Is corrupt, there are a few who
are reliable, and they are the ones whom
the public select for oficial life. The truth
is their very prominence in PUBLIC life,
their fidelity to the trusts therein imposed,
Is evidence which cannot be ignored that
the profession has and maintains a charac-
ter for honesty and uprightness which at
tracts general confidence.
Inspiration is a lost art in the court
room. Nowadays no truI lawyer advises,
prepares documents OF tries a case without
a careful preparation. Forsenic oratory has
passed away. No longer does the crowd
gather in the country court house 10 listen
to and be moved by the wit, pathos and
eloquence Of the advocate as for hours or
days he addresses the jury. The court
room may be filled. but 1t is largely. with
the ubiquitous reporters, many OF whom
are as destitute OF tears as Sahara of water
and as caIlous TO emotion as the mummied
sleepers of Egypt. No longer Is IL true
that weeping men and women with hand
kerchiefs to their eyes are moved by the
eloquence Of counsel. Rather may II more
truly be said that distant Texas and the
far Pacific slope hang breathlessly on the
reporters imagination and manufactured
eloqusnee. Time is a pressing factor.
Facts rather than eloquence is the de-
/ mand. 'ss
The lawyer whose honesty is proved has
the confidence Of the Judge and jury. A
| story OF Abraham Lincoln Is an illustra-
ton: He was appointed TO defend one
charged with murder. The crime was a
brutal one. the evidence entirely circum-
stantial. the accused a stranger Feeling
was high and against the friendless
defendant. on the trial Lincon drew from
the witnesses full statements of what they
saw and knew. There was no effort q
confuse, no attempt TO place before the
/ jury the facts other than they We're. In
! the argument, afer calling attention to the
fact that there was no direct testimony
Lincoln reviewed the circumstances, and
! after concedlng that this and that seemed
to point to DEFENDANTS guilt, closed by say,
ing he had reflected much on the case
and while Il seemed probable that defend
ant was guilty. he was not sure, and look
ing the jury straight In the face, said
Are your" The defendant was acquitted
and afterward the real criminal was de
tected and punished. How different woult
have been the conduct OF many lawyers
Some would have striyen 10 lead the judge
into technical errors, with a view 20 an
! appeal 10 a higher court. Others would hav'
become hoarse IN Pronunciation OF wit
nesses. decrying the lack Of positive tesu
mOny and the marvellous virtue OF reason
able doubt. The simple, straightforward
way Of Lincoln, backed By ihs eonndene'
Of tAs jury wen y