THE REIGN OF LAW 315 



if ho p;oos nhoad, ho will encounter calumnios and attacks; 

 but if ho porsovorcs and remains steadfast, thouffh the way 

 may sometimes seem dark and llie task liard, ho will l>e sus- 

 tained by the hearts and the consciences of the people. Cor- 

 rupt men support a man for ofhce and expect in return the 

 priviloi^o of licensed law Ijreakinj^. Ollicials are elected to 

 enforce the law, and have no more right to permit lawlessness 

 to repay personal obligations than they would have to use the 

 public funds to pay a private debt. When all executive offi- 

 cials are niled by law, no man could be above the law and the 

 law would reign over all. Such a condition would be the 

 highest form of civilization. Civilization rests upon law, and 

 law upon the citizen. No more important lesson can l)e 

 ])rought home than that of individual responsibility for the af- 

 fairs of state and nation. The mdifference of electors is the 

 weakness of a republican form of government . To arouse them 

 to action is a question of supreme importance. Those who would 

 destroy the laws are always active, and work while good 

 citizens sleep; but once the latter are aroused, they are in- 

 vincible. If the people want a reign of law they can get it, 

 but they must fight for it. There is the same conflict between 

 law and lawlessness as between the true and the false, the right 

 and the wrong, the evil and the good. The people will uphold 

 the laws when they understand the necessity of it, for the vast 

 majority of the people will do right when they know right. 

 There never was a time when unselfish teachers of the puljlic 

 were needed more than now. Lawyers more than any other 

 class should be the teachers of the people. They can do much, 

 if they are true to their calling, to remedy the things that dis- 

 honor. As they are ministers of the law, it is their duty to 

 keep the fountains of law pure and undefiled. The person 

 who in private life discharges the civic responsibihties resting 

 upon him, may perform as great a pul)lic service as he who 

 faithfully does his duty in public office. Indeed, the public 

 official is a reflection of the private citizen, as the pubUc life 

 of a nation is a reflection of its private life. Lawyers are in 

 a position to wield a powerful influence by tongue and pen for 

 the reign of law, so devoutly hoped for and so earnestly prayed 

 for by all good citizens. The highest obligation of their call- 



