The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-01-17
Member OF the Associated Press.
MONDAY, JANUARY L, 1916.
HUGHEs's PENETRATING VIEW.

The address of Justice Hughes be-
fore the New York Bar association will
be memorable as a searching analysis
of the conditions of government - of |
legislation, administration and judicial
procedure and interpretion in this
country under conditions not of, the
past, but of today. In the view that |
Justice Hughes has taken of all these !
things we see the operation not of a (
narrow or opinionated mind, but of one
which, beginning with pubhc-s spirited
and unselfish lesser service, has been
broadened by judicial and administra-
tive experience, and has now risen to
the highest level of competence in the
study of the problems of American pub
lie life. Mr.. Hughes first attracted
favorable public attention from the
way in which he bent his mind, with
out fear, favor or error, to the So
luton of the tangled mess of revela-
tons in the insurance cases, more than
10 years ago. But that remarkable
achievement of public enlightenment
followed a restricted course indeed in
comparison with the analysis, at once
penetrating and broadly fundamental,
which Mr.. Hughes has made in this
address.
He shows us in a striking way the
real trinity under which we live in
this country-the people on one side,
determined to exercise governmental
control, - and "disposed to utilize free
ly whatever powers they find at their
immediate commando on another side.
the legislators, politically minded,
vague of purpose, not infrequentIy in
tentionallv ambiguous, aiming to salts
fly the people and putting up to the
courts the solution of their own mean
ings; on the third side, the courts, in
( terpreting, weighing, often correcting,
and sometimes tending, perhaps in spite
of themselves, to invade the administra-
tive field. Our government is the re-
suit of the balance struck between
these three influences How shall we
arrive at the best result? Justice
Hughes points out the method of
patriotism and common sense. 1t is the
solution of wisdom, experience public
spirit-the solution of expert knowl-
edge, touched with the talisman of
patriotism. And of these words in the
address we may well be glad, because
they are a deserved rebuke to idle
minds and ignorant brains: owe shall
never rise to our opportunities in this
country and secure a proper discharge
of the public business until we get over
our dislike of experts. - And what
could be more to the point of our pres
emit situation than these worlds re
garding the great events of the times
"We are living at a time when mer
and women in large part of the world
are undergoing a discipline unrivalleC
| in its severity and are exhibiting
| heroism that has never been surpassed
Let it not be supposed that those who
| survive viii lack the strength which
such sacrifice and such discipline mus
| give. Let us not content ourselves
! with the comfortable thought of hard
ships we have escaped, but rather re
fleet upon the vigor, self discipline anC
patriotic ardor which alone can max,
us worthy of opportunity or able t
use it. -
Altogether it is a most remarkable
/ address, full of suggestions greatl
! needed at this moment.