New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-09-25

Study of the Qualities That Have Replaced the One Glory
of the Much Naunted Oden Time.

GetE5ina III but a faL 10 1eLrE Tie hsr OF To-
day as degenerate. commercial and misery.
Yet there are those that regard rude eloquence
rs The chief Characteristic Of tic odrime bar and
ripe scholarship as tast Of tie modem. oratory
alone no longer sways jury Dein2s ana his
s,.lf-ooned phrases epitofnized The failure Of
mere eloquenoe. The crude truth proved, to-
Jay IS al sufficient
Il would be folly. o. course. ~ behtue The
sIltndor Of the history OF tie American bar.
history that practically has been that OF the
nation Itself Followers Of the profession 81
professions, il has not inapuy been termed.
were leaders among those brave enough TO sign
The Declaration 81 Independence and bring
new people into being: the ansration OF states
nen that followed those Of the Revolutionary
jeriod Was inspired 10 great achievements BY
such superb advocates and intellectual giants as
Daniel Webster and Rufus Choate, while the
statistics Of the PRESIDENCY show the remarkable
fact that all but seven of chief executives
have been lawyers.
II is al but impossible 20 mention Rufus
Choate in association with the profession he so
sincerely loved and yet refrain from recalling
sis tribute 10 the American bar deliYe cred before
Gle Cambridge Law School in is43. To yindi-
rate the true Interpretation Of tie charters OF
the colonies" he said. ITO conduct the transcen-
dent controversy which preceded the Revolution,
that grand appeal 10 the reason Of civilization
This was the work 81 first generation -
lawyers. ] claim il Tor the bar that the
constitutions Of America Bobly closed tie
Series II our victories. These constitutions owe
70 the bar more than thetr tcrse and exact OK
preston and systematic arrangement; they owe
70 il. too their elameuts o. I'srnanence. their
feicitous reconciliation OF universal and intense
liberty with forms TO 'nshIine and regulations
- restrain II. To interpret these con-
Ntj4tjons. 10 administer and maintain them, this
Is The Office Of our age OF the profession Herein
Ss1.c we somewhat wherein to glory: hereby We
come into the Glass and share in the dignity Of
founders u states, af Eestorcrs Of iates Of Ire-
s.-Fgers Of states"
The bar known 20 Rufus Choate was the bar
= tie olden times" in the days when Chancellor
Kent Columbia's most famous teacher Of law.
MAS rendering decisions that practically created
,hancery Law "a this country and was preparing
The Commentaries" that to-day rank ia legal lit
erature with those 81 Blackstone. But there was a
period, somewhat midway between the time OF
the giants and the prpssent-in tie neighborho"d
- the yesr When Dickens came to America ana
went home 90 poke good natured fun at u.s. law
yers and aIl-when there notable lessen
ing Of the dignity and influence Of the bar.
The majority u that generation Of lawyers
Jared nothing for Harvard Dartmouth. or
even fer the most insufficient OF law schools
Their training consisted OF dcsultory readings
in out-of-dafe books carried on In the Office or
some practitioner whose preparation for great
profession had been but little better. To-day.
and ure-eminentIy Ia New York City, these con-
aiiions are completely reversed To the mctrop-
oils from every state and hamlet in the Union
the nations brainiest men are constantly being
drawn. knowing that, despite keen and almost
cruel competition. here the possible triulHIdls
arc greatest With rare exceptions these men
baYt. Lad not only the most admirable technical
training bot also have given that training the
-.a,,,oy, of classical or scientific study as a
foundation. this not infrequently being followed
h., a uost-e,rsduate course in some European
university.
4. q ~ course, somewhat difficult 10 select
NAMES that shall lie representative and typical
~ me particular bar Of to-day that is had IN
,asnd-diffcI.lt not because there are 50 few
from Which 90 select, but because Of tie very
embarrassment Of riches
Probably the most notable name added in re-
cam years 10 the distinguished list Of those
,ractising al the New York bar-and to that
lis. LET n be remembered the entire country has
contributed OF its best-is that Of John c.
St,Ooner The former United States Senator,
willie :. native Of Indiana, and now eminent in
The professional life Of Kew York is instnctvely
associated with the state Of Wisconsin. With
that state his life was intimately connected from
me ace Of sixteen From its increasingly great
,,pi,oTgi.v ne was graduated in 1864. later
.oi,lua, from his alma mater two honorary de-
,,roes During the Civil War he served as a
,,yiyate IN Company A Of the 10Th Wisconsin In
entry lator becoming a captain and brevet
major in the 10Th Infantry. and still later mill
,s,v secretary 10 Governor Fairchlld 81 Wis
consin.
tIn,os, Immediately upon sis admission 20 the