We 14 estate to Soot occurred to ta to speak for a little wh. cisms of the law, and 50 We are living i age. in the cole cono In evolʻg reached a tire whe character, heal in 1 sires. Nothing is so o Preceden is t k APPENDIX THE LAYMAN AND THE LAW Address before the Pennsylvania Bar Association, By Hon. JAMES PENNEWILL Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Pennsylvania Bar Association: When I was invited to deliver an address upon this occasion, I hesitated long before accepting the invitation. Having some knowledge of the reputation and standing of the eminent speakers who had performed such service in the past, I felt unequal to the task imposed. And, after accepting the invitation, it seemed difficult to determine upon what subject it would be fitting and proper to speak. Even if I were qualified to discuss some question of constitutional law, or some other subject equally grave, I would hesitate to do so, because I assume that of such character have been the chosen themes of former years, and that one of a somewhat different kind would not be inappropriate or unacceptable now. So it occurred to me that it might not be uninteresting to speak for a little while upon some of the layman's criticisms of the law, and particularly of its administration. We are living in an intensely practical and critical age. In the evolution and progress of the race we have reached a time which is pre-eminently commercial in its character, liberal in its thought and extravagant in its desires. Nothing is so old or sacred as to be immune from attack. Precedent is thought to be of no binding force, because that which may have been sufficient for yesterday will not suffice for to-day. Environments are different, con ditions have changed. The contrast between these later days and the earlier times it is impossible to describe; but the essential forces then were the same as now. The most valuable and effective qualities in the early days were courage, character, common sense, and a wholesome respect for the law. With all our progress and enlightenment we have nothing better now. In comparatively recent times great changes have been wrought, both in nation and State; and the conditions existing to-day could not have been dreamed of by those who were living even fifty years ago. "With smoking axle, hot with speed, with steeds of fire and steam, Wide waked to-day leaves yesterday behind him like a dream. Still from the hurrying train of life, fly backward far and fast The milestones of the fathers, the landmarks of the past." The growth and development of our common country has had no parallel in the history of any time. The meagre millions of '76 have become almost a hundred millions today. The hunting grounds of the red man are now the scenes of man's highest civilization. Our products are found in every market; and the productive fields of our Western country can almost fill the granaries of the world. There is great progress, fierce competition and marvelous achievement in every field of human activity. Men, and women, too, are more impatient of restraint, and are demanding greater freedom of action and thought than ever before. They measure the things of to-day by the standards of to-day, and estimate their value largely according to their usefulness in a busy and practical age. It has been the proud boast of the legal profession for many years, yes, during the entire history of our Government, that the lawyer has been always at the front in every important movement and work, except in times of war, and that there were none his supremacy and leadership to dispute. But conditions now seem to be a little bit changed. That supremacy and pre-eminence is being challenged to-day |