Evening star., 1924-07-21
by tho Associated Press,

|
LoNDON, July 81. Secretary
hughes, speaking today ct welcoming
exercises for the American Bar Asso-
citation at Westminster Hall declared
the American delegates had come to
England rejoicing in an amity which
mad become fixed habit OF two peo-
Piles intent on CO. operation in the in
terest of peace
'of all international contacts" he
said, none could be happier than
this. We have no political ends to
serve. no differences TO compose. no
policies to advance. except the high
est OF all--the policy OF understand
ing and good Will. The fact that We
are here is more eloquent than any
| thing We can say here. We come to
tighten the bonds of friendship"
Traces Origin OF Lnw.
| The Secretary devoted a large por
tion of his address to the birth and
progress OF the common law, He
gave an outline OF It's part in the
| American theory OF government. and
talked at length OF the working out
in practice OF the parts the courts
were assigned In protecting the rights
, of The individual as set forth in the
Constitution.
Many. probably most Of us" he
id, are bound to YOU by ties OF
blood, but even stronger is the sense
of the spiritual kinship that VIC are
all privileged to have with those who
in this island developed the institn-
tions OF liberty which were brought
10 the new world and were 80 fondiy
cherished that they were safeguarded
| in an Unprecedented manner.
I'VE come in tho spirit of fraternity
which has triumphed over the diver
sites OF the forty-eigh common
wealths in our Union because II is. In
truth. the spirit of the larger fellow
| ship represented here today in which
differences OF particular interest and
! environment cannot avail to OBJ
scure the community of tradition OF
those who have been trained ac-
| cording to the standard and the
method OF the common law.
Larger Aim In visit,
| I'VE come with even a larger aim
than the enjoyment of fraternaf as
sociation in order that by these
agreeable interchanges and more in
innate knowledge of each other we
may promote a clearer appreciation
of our privilege, opportunity and re-
sponsibility as ministers Of justice in
a world which needs justice and the
reasonableness which makes justice
possible.
The common law was treasured as
a part Of our birthright and inherit
ance. The ten talents that we thus
received have been employed so profit
ably that we are almost overcome by
the wealth that has flowed from the
investment.
The commonwealths in our Union
of states, each sovereign within its
sphere. are producing laws at rate
which has filled us with anxiety lest
no one should be able to know the
law. The fertility Of the legislative
soil is our despair Our Lady of the
Common Law has had an embarrass-
ing progeny. Courts are pouring out
decisions in such numbers that only
the makers of encyclopedias can
keep track of them.
Unity Despite Compiexity.
TT is, of course, inevitable that.
with the legislatures and courts of
4s states constantly deciding and
legislating, we should have not only
multiplicity but diversities of laws
which your efforts to cstablish uni
form laws especially in relation to
fro ~
mercial life have modified only in
limited degree.
But before you have recovered
somewhat from your surprise at
these diversities you will then have
new surprise and far more lasting
impression of the essential unity de-
spite all these differences, a unity
which makes us, in our complex ana
intimate relations in our vast inter-
nal commerce and network of activi-
ties, one people with a constantly IN
creasing consciousness of solidarity,
a unity which has been victorious
over the bitter sectional animositles
of the past and over the differences
in origin in the colony settlement, In
| climatic conditions and in particular
| interests of a unity which you will
not fail to perceive has its root in
the common conceptions OF the fun
damental principles of law and
liberty.
Control Of Omcialdom.
The spirit of the common law is
| opposed to those inSidious encroach-
ment upon liberty which take the
| form of an uncontrolled administra-
| tive authority-the modern guise of
an ancient tyranny not the more
welcome to intelligent free men be-
IZ.}S I.1s{(e