The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-02-25

the result. lne Mercenary ana unpr0-
fessional practice Of cooking up litiga-
tion and of trying to get people into
lawsuits that would not have been
brought except at the instance of some
shyster lawyer he would have looked
on with horror and contempt One
more potent reason why he and bis
kind of practitioners are needed now!
= Practically all Of Abraham LincoiD'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
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
mana no one could be in more deadly
earnest than Lincoln. He was close
reasoner and one whose logical force
was feared by every antagonist. II
he INDUCED in story at all in bis
argument 1t was only to illustrate a
point or drive home principle Lin
coin told stories as other men take up
his cards, his drink, likewise his es-
cape from labor and worry. He was
social soul. and they bound him to
MS kind. He in way was something
or preacher. and they helped give his
lessons and sugar coat his sermons.
SUCH sermons as he did preach were
Tor 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
marsh. 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 most successful cross oues-
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
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 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. veritable 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 O.
peacemaker. his frowning down ON all
attempts to 'cook up suits, his lack
Of commercialism, his dependence or
right and original reasoning rather
than on precedent. his driving straight
q
aside the nonessentials, his courteous.
sympathetic but effective treatment Of
witnesses and, above all, his high idea
OF his calling-all these things, T.
seems to me, should be held alOft a.
models to every lawyer In the land.
That he should be so made a standard
and example is a thing that interest.
not only lawyers. but all citizens. Sc
long as the corporation attorney, the
lawyer lobbyist and the legal protect
or and sometimes abettor Of criminal.
is In our midst so long will these burn
ing questions be before every commn-
nifty. The lawyer is licensed by soci-.
ETY. and owes his first duty to tn.
power that made him. 1t Is time that
we looked at this matter as it js and
settled 1t according to Gods truth anf
not according to man made fictioas,
At one time Mr.. Lincoln went g.
to try a noted case, where
he met Edwin M. Stanton and other
legal iuminaries from the east Hi.
own part in the trial was not conspic,
uous. but he carried from the Obi.
city at least one great resolve H.
saw that the college bred lawyers wers
travelling west, and he determined "a
be ready and worthy to meet them.
Il am going home to study law" sai6
this seasoned attorney. who was a.
ready the senior lawyer in his judicis,
circuit. ..s.
This was no weakling. content with
mediocre success. but one who woule
measure with the best
Lincoln the lawyer showed the same
hatred Of injustice and the same Oh
position to those who live In the swea,
,f other mems faces that were In eyi.
ience throughout his career. He was
never SO happy as when righting som.
wrong. defending the weak against the
powerful or defeating some graspina
'coundrel who was trying to grind th.
'aces Of the poor. He never sunk the
nan In the lawyer. His hardships
made him friend OF those who tofl.
This made the people trust him. These
'ame qualities that drew to- him the
owe OF the masses in the beginning
have held and Increased that love to
his day. There was nothing in him to
appeal to the selfish classes or the