Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 22.pdf/611

 On Lincoln's Advice

581

recent years have radical alterations

the ministry.

been introduced into our criminal law,

lawyer to help preserve the social order, to aid in securing justice, and to pro mote the welfare of society by protect

and there are still lawyers who regard

the old criminal law as quite adequate. It is evident that a scientiﬁc criminal procedure and criminal jurisprudence must rest upon a scientiﬁc criminal sociology. Inasmuch as it is evident that laws need constant change to meet changed social conditions, as long as

It is the function of the

ing it from crime and all other social disorder. If this is the true view of the legal profession, then the commercial ized conception of the profession, as having for sale primarily personal ser vices to individuals and corporations

the bulk of this work of changing laws

who can pay for them, is an utterly false

falls to the legal profession, it is the duty

knowledge, not only of social conditions,

conception. We must do something to place our legal profession upon a higher plane in this country and to get its members to regard themselves as social

but of the principles which underlie

servants primarily, rather than as per

social organization and social change.

sonal servants of individuals or corpora tions, if the nation is to endure. At least one of the things which needs to be attempted is to give the lawyer the social point of view, and this can pertaps

of the legal profession to equip them selves for this function by an extensive

A word in conclusion may not be out of place as to the relations of the legal

profession to society generally.

If the

social view of the law is the right one,

then the legal profession must be re garded fundamentally as a social-service profession quite as much as teaching or

be secured through the study of sociology and the other social sciences better than in any other way.

On Lincoln’s Advice "If . . . you cannot be an honest lawyer, resolve to be honest without being a lawyer." bmham Lincoln.

By HARRY R. BLYTHE F these fair words were burned into hearts So deeply that our actions sprang from them,

How many still would fret on rights in rem, And still persist in playing sorry parts? Oh! would not some of us eschew the marts Of blighting litigation, and condemn The whole unhappy business-seek the gem Of truth elsewhere—win gold by other arts?

Ah! if we had the courage but to do As oft the conscience tells us that we ought,

If to ourselves we only could be true, The world would never say that we are bought As Judas was. Honor would crush the few, But all our work would be in goodness wrought.