Page:Convocation Addresses of the Universities of Bombay and Madras.djvu/534

 negatived by apparent prevarication or falsehood you have no right to treat him as a rogue because his evidence happens to be against your side. By all means test to the utmost his accuracy of observation and his memory, and if reasonable occasion arise test also his veracity and shake his credit — this you must do in the interests of your client — but do not unnecessarily injure or insult him. He comes into Court for the purpose of speaking to the matter in dispute, and not for the purpose of having the secrets of his life laid bare to the common gnze. Above all, when addressing the Court on the evidence do not draw unwarrantable inferences from his words, and then vilify him for what he has neither said nor suggested. In a word, follow faithfully the principles laid down in our admirable Indian Law of Evidence. A violation of these principles may buy a cheap notoriety in the least desirable quarters — but in the minds of all whose opinion is worth having it grievously besmirches that professional purity which you have to-day promised to maintain, and it seriously interferes with the ends of Justice by making the very name of cross-examination a terror, by making honest folk afraid to enter the witness box.

Many of you will doubtless enlist in the ranks of journalism, a yearly increasing force—you will find the life creasing force arduous and exacting. It is a service which makes no allowance for private convenience. You are the master, but at the same time the slave, of the public. You must be ready at any moment to give an ex cathedra opinion on any subject, familiar or unfamiliar. Nothing is too great for your attention, nothing too small. You are the Nasmyth hammer of literature. You must work in season and out of season. Are you sick? —rise from bed and dash off a leading article on the latest political telegram. Are you in domestic trouble? —put grief on one side while you review in appropriate style the new book of comic stories. But to compensate for this life of endless work and worry you will power—godlike power. The influence of a newspaper in England is enormous, incalculable, and even in India where there is sometimes an affectation of poohpoohing the Press it is very great. Question it who will, the Press is a great power for good— it is also unfortunately a great power for evil. It can expose and insist upon the remedy of wrong —it can also do wrong. Reflect on this fact—that your first essential is to interest the public. No amount of industry or cleverness can avail without this. You must interest. Now reflect on this other fact—that nothing interests the majority of people so much as adverse criticism, 31