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Modern Eloquence: Vol III, After-Dinner Speeches P-Z by Various
page 30 of 515 (05%)
prospects, but had become indebted to the Bar during his period in
politics. He had gone back and had taken up the small cases, and yet in
his sober moments it was said the sparks of genius still exhibited
themselves at times. He was called upon to defend a poor woman at one
time who was arrested by a heartless corporation for stealing a lot of
their coal. He sobered up and squared himself before the jury, conducted
the examination of the case and the trial of it, and in a magnificent
burst of eloquence the case went to the jury. And after the jury
retired, he sat, while they deliberated, by his client. And finally the
jury came in. The foreman rose and said that "The jury find the
defendant not guilty." The distinguished lawyer, in the presence of the
crowd and jury, and justice of the peace, straightened back in his
chair. "My dear Miss Smith, you are again a free woman. No longer the
imputation of this heinous crime rests upon you. You may go from this
court-room as free as the bird that pinions its wings and flies toward
the heavens, to kiss the first ray of the morning sunshine. You may go
as free as that bird, but before you go pay me that $3.00 you owe me on
account." [Laughter.] What I mean to enforce by this is that the lawyer
who is in politics solely for the $3.00 is not a safe man to intrust
with political power.

Judge Baldwin, of Indiana, it is said, in giving his advice to lawyers
upon one occasion, told them that the course to be pursued by a lawyer
was first to get on, second to get honor, and third to get honest.
[Laughter.] A man who follows that policy in my judgment is not such a
lawyer as should be let loose in politics. Rather, it seems to me, that
the advice to give to lawyers, and the principle to follow is, first to
be honest, second to get on, and third, upon this broad basis, get honor
if you can. [Applause.] It is unnecessary for me at this time to refer
to the distinguished men who have entered politics from the profession
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