Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 18.pdf/334

 EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT INTERNATIONAL LAW. In the March American Law Review (V. xl, p. 188) Edwin Maxey prints a third instalment of his narra tive of " The Development of International Law," covering the period from American in dependence to the present time.

307

LIENS. " Woodmen's Lien Law in New Brunswick," by Edward P. Raymond, Canad ian Law Times (V. xxvi, p. 249). MASTER AND SERVANT (See Admiralty). MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS (See Equity).

INTERNATIONAL LAW. " The Growing Conception of Neutrality " is the title of an interesting contribution to the March Ameri can Law Review (V. xl, p. 52) by Dr. Hannis Taylor. He shows that this idea vaguely and incoherently put forth by Grotius has become the most important development of the last century. He discusses first the right of belligerent ships in neutral ports and finds that while they may not improve their fighting power they may repair to the point of sea worthiness, and they cannot insist upon a coal supply nor upon general supplies and repairs except under such conditions or limitations as the neutral may see fit to impose according to the dictates of its own policy. LEGAL ETHICS. Frank P. Pritchard pub lishes in the January American Law Register (V. liv, p. i) a discussion of the problem which most perplexes the young lawyer, " Legal Ethics." This is the most valuable discus sion of this subject which it has been our pleasure to read, combining an abundance of practical sense with sound morality. It is impossible to summarize it, but we commend it to all students and young practitioners. LEGISLATION. " Laws and Legislation to Protect our Gas and Oil Interests," by S. M. Porter, American Lawyer (V. xiv, p. 122). LEGISLATION. Don E. Mowry discusses "The Growing Complexities of Legislation" in the March American Law Review (V. xl, p. 212). He advocates measures to improve the qualities of our legislatures, and thereby our legislation, and for this purpose advocates the following measures of reform: "(i) Make legislative sessions annual. (2) Elect representatives for two years. (3) Withdraw some of the power now held by the ' sifting committee ' and give it to a depart ment of state to be known as the legislative bureau, this bureau to act only as an adjunct of the legislature. (4) Elect the governor for four years."

PUBLIC POLICY. " Election Reforms : The Trend towards Democracy," by J. C. Ruppenthal, American Lawyer (V. xiv, p. 108). PUBLIC POLICY (Government). To the March American Law Review (V. xl, p. 161) Wilbur Larremore contributes a striking article on our theories of government entitled " The Consent of the Governed." He believes that the reverence of average Americans for the work of the fathers of the Republic has had both good and bad effect. He deprecates a too superstitious veneration of Jefferson's famous principles borrowed from Rousseau and incorporated in the Declaration of Independ ence, especially that relating to the consent of the governed. He shows that Rousseau de rived his doctrines from earlier English philoso phers but applied them with French logic in a manner that would have startled their authors. The Americans adopted the prin ciples, but ignored them in creating their government. As proof of this he cites the toleration of slavery, the Louisiana purchase, our treatment of the Indians, and the Monroe Doctrine. He shows that the peril most feared by the founders was the development of aristocratic or monarchical institutions. They sought only the essential equality of white men before the law. He believes there is an inextinguishable race instinct in the Anglo-Saxon people which has shown itself in the English colonial governments where alien races have outnumbered the dominant white population in a form similar to that which exists in our Southern states. The growing solidarity of English-speaking people is another manifestation of this race instinct. This com petition of races is saved from a mercilessly selfish attitude by the influence of Christianity. The author does not discuss the expediency of definite policies, but merely wishes to direct attention to an infirmity of political thought. He believes that veneration for the work of the