The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-02-13
THE LAWYER.
Essay Delivered by Associate Justice Eugene B. Gary,
Before the South Carolina Bar Association In Column.
bia, S. c., on the 18th Day of January, 1907.

bia, S. c.. on the 18TH Day of January, 1907.
A curious novel appeared in the literary world a few
years ago, to which its author had given the peculiar
name of "She."
1t contains a weird description of English travellers
landing upon the savage coast of Africa. where they found
marks Of a past civilization.
There was the ancient stone wharf imbedded in the
mud, and there was, also, the longforgotten canal.
1t tells how they struggled up the lonely river, and
across the morass to the City of Kor, then in ruins.
Those of you who may have read the story will recall,
no doubt, the vivid picture Of the deserted and crumbllng
Temple of Truth.
Within its inner court was a statue Of the goddess,
who once had innumerable worshippers.
On a pedestal there was a magnificent marble globe,
upon which stood a %sculptor's dream of female lowell
ness.
A veil was over her face, and her hands were extend
ed in duplication. There it stood, divine amid the desc
lation, silvered in the moonlight which softened while it
Illuminated every outline; and thus it had stood tor ages
Truth 6essechiug the ovo,a TO lift her veiI
When we read this description, two thoughts we're
suggested: first, that the statue was a more beautiful
symbol of the administration of the law, than the statue
of Justice, blind and holding in her hands the
evenly-balanced scales, for the reason that her eyes should
be opened, in order that she might keep watch over the
temple, and thereby, be better enabled to detect truth
from %falsehood, which requires all her faculties; and,
second that no member of our profession, can hope for
lasting fame, who is not inspired to search for truth.
A victory otherwise founded is but temporary.
Pasquier's advice to his son was: do not undertake
any cause, which you do not believe to be good, for in
vain will you attempt to persuade your judges, if you are
not first persuaded of the justice of your cause. Combat
for the truth, not for victory"
LAgnesseau, the great jurist said to the Bar Of
France: Never pride yourselves on the miserable honor
of having thrown obscurity over truth; and, more sensitive
to the interest of justice, than the desire of a vain reputa-
ton, seek rather to make the goodness of your cause, than
the greatness Of your genius appear. Let the zeal which
you bring to the defense of your clients, be incapable Of
making you the ministers of their passion, and the organs
of their secret malignity."
England's greatest queen said, she wished her ad-
vocates to remember, that they were counsel not so much
PRO domina regina, as PRO aomiHa Verztate.
There never has been a time in the history of the
legal profession, when it was more incumbent upon its
votaries, to lift the veil from the eyes of Truth; for there
never has been a time when the temptation to depart from
the traditions of the profession, and when the responsible
ty upon the lawyer, as a citizen, to the Government was
greater.
The future of the Republic is, perhaps, more depend
ent upon the attitude of the members of the Bar towards
the Government than upon all other classes combined.
Chancellor Kent we'll said: The responsibilities at
tached to the profession and practice of the law, are Of the
most momentous character. Its members by their voca-
ton, ought to be fitted for the great public duties of life,
and they may be said to be, ex ofcio, natural guardians of
the law, and to stand sentinels over the Constitutions and
liberties of the country"
De Tocqueville, the first great observer of American
institutions said of the United States, seventy five years
ago: ''In America there are no mobiles or literary men, and
the people are apt to mistrust the wealthy; lawyers,
therefore, form the highest political class. AS the
lawyers form the only enlightened class whom the people
do not mistrust, they are naturally called upon to occupy
most of the public stations. They fill the legislative
assemblies, and are at the head Of the administration;
they consequently exercise a powerful influence upon the
formation of the law, and upon its execution"
In France, beside her mailed chivalry, stood an order
Of men, known as No6ssse A-Aa-r06f, whose only patent
of nobility was admission on the roll Of advocates, and
from whose ranks were taken the magistrates, who as
members of the parliament of Paris, represented the
feudal court, and council of the ancient kings. While we:
have no class of nobility in this country, the members of
the legal profession have to a great extent, and, in the
main to the satisfaction of the people, discharged the
duties that devolved upon the mobiles of other countries.
This is shown by the fact that nearly every President,
Vice-President, Speaker of the House of Representatives,
and Head Of Department since the organization of the
Government, has been a lawyer.
Nearly every Secretary of the Treasury, has been a
member of the Bar, without previous training as a