The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-02-07

we Will not consume llLue Ill uuuSl'
taking to define the word "ethics," II
a technical sense, as it will subserVt
our purpose on this occasion to state
that it simply connotes duty, whether
applied to the legal, the medical o.
any other profession.
- No code of ethics should be rscog
nized, that is not founded upon truth
fidelity, honesty, and the rest. of thu
virtues, as no lawyer can be trul!
great whose character Is not founded
upon morality.
T: Custom has sanctioned certain
phrases. until they have become 8
part of the common speech, such as
illegal ethics" medical ethics" etc.
which are to be understood, as desig.
mating the moral principles and codes
of specialized rules, which are for the
guidance of the practitioner. in the res,
pective professions.
Upon investigation, however, it will
be found that many Of these rules, are
but special applications Of broad prin-
ciples, while others are only conven-
tional usages Of the particular pro-
fession. This Is strikingly illustrat-
ed by those rules, pertaining to the
professional intercourse Of FRACTION
ers, and while such rules have de-
cidily ethical basis; they are, neverthe-
less, of that character, to which. we
ordinarily apply the term etiquette.
Perhaps the most marked distinc-
ton, between legal ethics and that OF
other professions, Is, that a violation
of it's canons may result in profession
al death to the lawyer, therer max
ing 1t unlawful for him, thereafter, to
exercise the right and privilege guar
anteed to him by the Federal and
State Constitutions, Of which he, car
not be deprived, except by due pro-
cess Of law. /.
A citizen is kept in bounds, by his
respect for the law and the force OF
public opinion, but, in the legal pro-
fession summary jurisdiction : is
lodged in the courts, to discipline
those who violate the ethical code,
prescribed for the guidance Of the leg
al profession.
To this extent, legal ethics partake
of the nature Of law. >,
The power to punish for violation
of those canons of the ethical code
which are generally recognized as be-
ing founded upon morality, is inherent
in the very organization Of the court,
whether they have been formally pro-
mulgated or not, as code. 1t Is in
the nature Of the police power, which
Is fundamental and essential to gov
ernment.
Legal ethics demand, not only an
intelligent watchfulness to do right,
but also a knowledge Of established
customs and traditions of the profes-
sion.
Hence good intentions and high
moral ideals, do not always safeguard
the lawyer, against violations of its
canons.
Codes of ethics, while emphasizing
certain moral principles, Of which ev-
cry member Of the bar should be cog
infant, do not undertake to specify all
the canons to be observed by them, as
this would be impossible. Therefore
it is OF the utmost Importance, that
legal ethics should form part Of the
curriculum OF every law school, and
no one should be admitted to the
practice, who can not pass a salts
factory examination, upon this course
OF study. We are glad to see that the
State Board Of Law Examiners in this
State, has prescribed such course oi
study.
In every age, the lawyer has played
a conspicuous part, in shaping the af-
fairs. of State; and in certain coun'
tries, the. legal profession has taker
rank, among the orders Of nobility
The persons at Athens, who cores
bonded most nearly to advocates o.
modern times, were not speakers II
courts, but class of learned men, be-
longing to a distinguished branch o
society, who composed speeches foI
clients to be delivered by the parties
themselves, in their own causes. =
In Rome there was no particula
line of demarkation, drawn between
the advocate and the statesman. Will
appearing in the cause Of his client
the speaker was, in fact, acquiring
that popularity and influence, whicl
placed all public honors within hi
grasp.
Among their privileges the advo
Gates were exempt from many bur
dens, imposed upon others. After ceas
ing to exercise their profession, the
were admitted to the order of count
of the first rank.
From the fourteenth century. tn
Bar of France constituted an order o
nobility, known as Noblesse de i
Robe, until the French Revolution Il
1889. The Magistrates, who as. mem
l. 80 ~, norliauent NJ Paris ren