YMCA Night Law School - Triangle Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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6 4, . f ss .. Wby' Tf :?f5'E: . Society is only made possible through the law and its success must necessarily rest upon the supremacy of the law. If the law is to be supreme, it must be efficient. To be efficient., it must enforce its mandates. The law is divided into two great classes, called Rights and Remedies. The former repre- sents a claim which the law recognizes and will enforce, while the latter is the relief which the law gives by enforcing that right. The different branches of the law merely undertakes to define the particular rights and remedies in the particular class. hlan made law is not perfect. It never will be perfect, but without a doubt, a higher standard of legal ideals can and will be developed in the future, just as the constant conflict of domestic, social, political and economic problems of the past have evolved a greater and better civilization. To this end, present criticism of legal methods can well be used for construc- tive improvements for the future. To make better laws requires not only good legislators, but co-operation from fair minded citizens. Law to a certain extent is influenced and guided by public opinion, but public opinion is a rash guide. It is not usually guided by reason, but by personal feelings, sometimes making a hero out of a criminal, or a mountain out of a mole-hill. Public opinion is created by the citi- zens themselves. A well-informed and thinking public will materially effect the quality as well as the substance of the laws themselves. A knowledge of the law and a respect for it are a pre-requisite to good citizenship as well as to onels own self respect. They are essential for business success, which is not without its compensations. But. whether it is business, or pleasure, it is an asset which carries its own satisfaction. Nlany people in the past have gotten byi' without any particular knowledge of the law, but what guarantee is that for the future? Law from the dictates of reason, as well as from tradition, is an essential part of our existence and a basis for success. An ,old sage some thou- sand years ago said, give me a lever and a place to rest it upon, and I will move the Worldf, but if he were living today, he would have said, 'ggive me a knowledge of the law as a lever and I will pry open any gate to success. Enmcsfr KRUsL1NG. 42

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-LJ' ,. 'I -'f:?a5x2'.. u 1 ' . -J A A - A Law lfVhat is Law and why should it interest me? To some, the word lawn represents myriads of statutes, musty old law books and haggling attorneys. To others, it presents enlightenment, a livelihood, personal triumphs or perhaps justice. But' such are only first impressions. To fully appreciate and realize the great importance of law, it is necessary to give at least a little study to it in order to gain an insight into its origin, its history, its purpose. its obliga.tions and benefitsg its efhciencies and deficiencies, so as to know and understand what the law is and its application. VVith this in mind, we find from a study of society from earliest times that law was a neces- sary element of IIIELHVS life. By nature he is a social animal, constantly seeking the companion- ship and association of his fellow men. In order that this association might be conducted in peace and with the proper regard for each other's rights, it was soon found necessary to have some sanction of authority to enforce and sustain the usages and customs which had sprung into being. As a natural result a supreme authority was delegated, or in many cases, assumed by might in order to enforce those usages and customs. And as time grew, those rules of conduct took upon themselves, the effect of laws. being developed and modified to meet the needs and the conscience of the times. But law was not entirely man made. All nature follows definite and well defined laws. Wle have but to turn to the sciences, to physics, to chemistry, to astronomy, to biology, and others, to see that certain forces are constantly working in definite paths toward definite objec- tives, always obeying the command of a Higher or Supreme Being. hlan unthinkingly obeys those same laws, andin his endeavor to seek the better and higher planes of life, he has patterned his own mode of conduct after them, recognizing them as the basis for his own ideas of authority and justice. ' The law has been developed by gradual stages, and only after surmounting great diHficul- ties has it obtained the present standard of it.s ideals. In the early days might meant rightu and if a man was not strong enough to enforce his claim, he had no remedy. The first great step in overthrowing this obstacle to freedom and justice, was the signing of the hlagna Charta, in 1215, when the barons of England forced King John, at the point of the sword to recognize certain civil rights to them as vassals and citizens. A second step occurred in the 16th century when learning took on an impetus, and printing was invented. The American Revolution and the Emancipation Proclamation carried on and enlarged the rights already gained. The present system of laws aims to distribute justice impartially to all, regardless of race, color, creed. or positiong it aims to protect the greatest number of people at all times, giving con- sideration to the minority, also to the individual interests: it aims to protect the weak as well as give relief to the strong: and it aims to consider the frailties of human nature and to take into consideration all the circuinstances of the case when it propounds its judgment. -L1

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