Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-11-15
''Sittlichkeit' ---Higher Than Written Law
An address y David l. the annual banquet the

t1OH ACT was ilckeQ INTO shape ana
though not formally adopted, left In
a satisfactory condition and the con-
ference tentatively adopting both a
compulsory and an optional law. The
chairman Of the committee, Mr.. BAILEY
of Massachusetts,, wanted to make the
compulsory law the Illumination Of an
unconstitutional and so-called progress
sive declaration. rather than the rec
concentration of a law both constitu-
tional and workable. have spent too
much time on this conference and
turn to the American Bar Associa-
ton.
1t was the first time the association
had ever met outside of the limits of
the United States. A great English
jurist had before this delivered the
address-Lord Russell of Kiloween,
chief justice of England, but il was
the first time that the lord chancellor
had crossed the seas for that purpose.
To do this he had to obtain the royal
permission and to have the seal tenn
porarily placed in commission. The
king for time was without the keep
err Of his conscience. but substitutes
could still affix the seal to the great
acts OF the kingdom.
The Princess theater, at which the
afternoon meeting was held, was
packed to the doors. Being MEM
Der OF the general council. I had an
opportunity to sit on the platform,
which did not avail myself of, there
being so many distinguished guests
h4k 4 l.S. 1aSl an
as a matter of fact some had to stand.
regretted not going on the platform
for Lord Haidane had poor voice and
II was difficult to follow his address.
had as a reeompense good conlDany,
the next seat being occupied by Judge
Cornish of the supreme court of
Maine. II was not Maine and Cali
fcrnia, but Maine and Hawaii that
met, and it is one Of the pleasures of
these meetings that they bring in con-.
tact men from the most remote parts
OF the country.
M. Kellogg OF st. Paul, the presi.
dent, Is q very able lawyer of remark
able energy and power of work, who
has been conducting for the govern
ment some Of the large trust cases,
but in his address which had been de-
liyered in the morning, i missed the.
culture, the eloquence and the grace
OF his former partner, Gushman X.
Davis. On the other hand. no one had
any reason to be ashamed of the COM
parison between the presiding officer
of the afternoon and the distinguished
foreign guests. The wonderful per-
sonality, great learning and happy wit
of Chief Justice White never shone to.
better advantage,
Lord Holdane.. In his opening adj
dres, said he brought a message from
King George across the sea to people
Of kindradsFaoea and foaeHss and his,
theme was that the people of Great
Britain, Of the United States. OF
Canada, and to a large degree
Of Germany; have the same habits OF
thought same point of view, the
same tradition, which permeates and
colors their written laws and their,
judicial decision, that international
questions should be easier of solu-
ton where the standpoints of the peo-
pie involved are the same, and the
appeal to arms became relatively un-
necessary. He instanced the unguard.
ed frontier between Canada and the
United States as an evidence of the
possibility of nations living in close
contact with each other without the
necessity of ornaments, provided
there are common notions of conduct
This, he said, he was authorized by
the British Government to make as
q formal declaration to the people of
the United States. To describe what
he meant he appropriated a German
word, eSittlichkeit," and translated it
into English as good form"
As ! listened / thought to myself
that the social life surrounding was
an evidence that the doctrine is not
limited merely to those nations which
have similar notions of good form.
The double life in the PROVENCE
French and English, seemed to me to
go on with comparatively little jer,
the different notions
Of conduct, for, by their very contact,
a new convention had been formed,
with new ideas, composite of the
two, under which a fairly satisfactory
and healthy life had arisen each racel
the notions and ideas of
The other race and thus by concession
arrived at common standard of &C
ton. -.
reflected again on the more stu
pendous problem with which, we are
so familiar-the acceptance by the
hermit nation of japan and by the !
tolerant and highly
trained Chinese nation of Western
mores, and TO a greater or less extent
of their own mores,
which We. in our narrowness and ig-
attribute to an admission of |
the superiority of our concepts and
habits of thought / have never felti
smaller or less proud of my race than
at banquet given at the Young by |
Mr.. Breckons half a dozen years ago,
1t which were gathered the warning
factions Of the Chinese in this com. |
The then consul, Chang Tso
Fan, said TO them in substance: Il
am q Confucian,, but have been read
ng the Words of Jesus, and the fund
morality does not differ from