22 TEE SUN. 



any outside calling tliem so cannot alter the fact, either more or 

 less. Since the authority of the law is internal, not even God 

 himself can add to its obligation. Therefore any declaratory 

 jDart, however perfect, has not only no force or operation what- 

 ever, but to im))0se its outward authority, violates liberty. 



But this is not all, it obstructs the free and full execution of 

 the natural law. Not being inherent, it is inapplicable and 

 gives rise to endless constructions, interpretations, and amend- 

 ments. Ethics become confused, litigation arises and a legal 

 hierarchy is instituted. Technicalities spread a net for the 

 unwary, allowing the guilty to escape. The interpolation of 

 justice has become its travesty. The law, being no longer 

 universal, saints and sinners, legally speaking, become inter- 

 changeable, with the geography of the country. 



But, worse still, the penalty of the law, also, becomes most 

 arbitrary and unnatural. For, whoever heard of nature send- 

 ing the gout, for a sprained ankle? Or for the violation of 

 one member, condemning the wj/iofebody! 



But, do not the complex relations of our civilization demand 

 certain rules and regulations? Yes, and have we not got them 

 in the customs and usages of the common laxo'i Thev have not 

 come doM'n from the State house, but vip from the people. We 

 certainly do not need any "Be it enacted," as a "Thus saith the 

 Lord!" Out of the 47 state law factories, with an annual prod- 

 uct of about 5000 laws, we are unable to find more than half 

 a dozen that concern the whole State, such as the state alms 

 house, hospital tfec, and these could be much more economic- 

 ally provided for, through voluntary co-operation. The rest, 

 omitting those usurping local jurisdiction and amendatory of 

 former blunders, are really for private gain, though profess- 

 ing to be for the public good. 



The laws are but the enactment of the peoples' prejudices 

 and their administration, the enforcement of their wills. Law- 

 yers ought to be saints, if handling the laws makes one such.* 

 There is hardly an epithet too degrading for onr neighbor, who 

 is limning for ottice, until he is elected our law-maker! 



•rherere are three kindn of lawyers, first, those who possess a natural sense of jus- 

 tice, second, thoHt; who work f or ii client to win, ihrough hook or crook, third, those 

 legal vultures who prey on innocent people. 



John Smith wii.- so trnnlilcd with JoncH' turkeys that he put tliem in llie i>()un(l. 

 Smith was provoked and sued for damage, wliich the judge awarded, on the ground 

 that, while cattle, sheep and geese were specified, turkeys were unmentioned '. 



