The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1909-01-26

ne could bring the contending parties
together and have them adjust their
quarrel, even though he lost case
and fee, he seemed entirely happy at
the result. The mercenary and unpro-
fessional practice of cooking up Htiga-
ton and of trying to. get people into
lawsuits that would not have been
!. brought except at the instance of some
shyster lawyer be would have looked
on with horror and contempt. One
more potent reason why he and his
kind of practitioners are needed now.
Practically all of Abraham Lincoln'S
adult life other than that spent in
politics and in public Office was de-
voted to the law. He never seemed so
happy. as when riding the circuit.
Here he was in his element, working.
I by day and telling stories far into the
night 1t must not be imagined, how
ever, that the two pursuits interfered.
When there was serious business ON
hand no one could be in more deadly
earnest than Lincoln He was close
reasoner and one whose logical force
was feared by every antagonist If
he INDUCED in a story at all in his.
argument it was only to illustrate a
point or drive home principle Lin
coin told stories as other men take up
pastimes and designations They were
his cards, his drink, likewise his es-
cape from labor and worry. He was
social soul. and they bound him to
his kind. He in a way was something
of preacher, and they helped give his
lessons and sugar coat his sermons
Such sermons as he did preach were
for the most part concealed and were
hence all the more effective. The NOR
al that is thrust forward too promi-
nently may arouse antagonism instead
Of winning unconscious assent. Lin
coin knew how to win people to truth
rather than drive them to it. His
moral nature was conspicuous, but not
harsh. He taught by parable and
merciful example rather than by the
big stick. His spirit belonged to the
school of the Nazarene rather than to
that of Caesar
He was a most successful cross ques-
toner, but resorted to none of the
contemplate habits of badgering and
brOwbeating witnesses. Rather he
won the confidence of the one he was
questioning until the truth would
come out in spite of prearranged plans
to conceal it. No man was more pitt
less to sham and deceit, but the mere
ly timid or confused had nothing to
fear from him He was gentle with
the weak and used his great strength
only on a deliberate rogue or on
an antagonist of his own size He
was seldom angry, but at such times
was said to be terrifying and almost
unearthly in his wrath, a veritabe lion
of men.
Lincoln the lawyer should become a
type to his own profession. The more
lawyers study his career, his spirit.
his methods and his ethical standards
the more they will see the rightness
and greatness of the man. From my
viewpoint practically his every atti-
tude is one needed by the profession
now and for all time. His refusal to
take an unjust case. his efforts as a
peacemaker, his frowning down on all
attempts to 'cook up" suits, his lack
Of commercialism, his dependence on
right and original reasoning rather
than on precedent, his driving straight
to the root Of case and brushing
aside the nonessentials, his courteous,
sympathetic but effective treatment of
witnesses and, above all, his high ideal
OF his calling-all these things, 1t
seems to me, should be held aloft as
models to every lawyer in the land.
That he should be so made a standard
and example is thing that interests
not only lawyers. but all citizens. So
long as the corporation attorney, the
lawyer lobbyist and the legal protect
or and sometimes abettor of criminals
is in our midst so long will these burn
ing questions be before every commu-
nifty. The lawyer is licensed by soci-
ETY. and owes his first duty to the
power that made him. 1t is time that
we looked at this matter as it is and
settled it according to Gods truth and
not according to man made fictions.
AT one time Mr.. Lincoln went to
Cincinnati to try noted case, where
he met Edwin M. Stanton and other
legal luminaries from the east. His
own part in the trial was not conspic-
uous, but he carried from the Ohio
city at least one great resolve. He
saw that the college bred lawyers were
travelling west, and he determined to
be ready and worthy to meet them.
Il am going home to study law" said
this seasoned attorney, who was al
ready the senior lawyer in his judicial
circuit.
This was no weakling, content with
mediocre success, but one who would
measure with the best.
Lincoln the lawyer showed the same
hatred of injustice and the same OPP
position to those who live in the sweat
Of other mems faces that were in evil
dence throughout his career. He was
never so happy as when righting some
wrong, defending the weak against the
powerful or defeating some grasping
scoundrel who was trying to grind the
faces of the door, He never sunk the