Publisher's Synopsis
The tenacity of the common law is first noted. After celebrating its triumphs and its ascendency over all forms of law with which it has come into contact, Mr. Pound says, "Superficially, then, the triumph of the common law seems assured." But he fears that there are dangers to be met; the first is that of legislation, and he cites Maitland and Brunner as sounding the cry of danger from over-legislation. He does not think their fears, from this cause, well founded, however, but the danger he foresees is a new one. The people have in all times in the past been with the common law; now they are against it. Recent decisions uphold the freedom of the individual to contract; deny the rights of the people to "stand between a portion of our people and oppression." He cites decision after decision to substantiate this statement, and he succeeds. But the cases he cites are all cases in which the lines are drawn with great distinctness between labor and capital. Is this not where the trouble lies? Is it the common law which is against the people, or is it that the courts for a time inevitably interpret the sentiments of the class from which the judges are drawn? To say "by which the judges are influenced," might be too severe. The people were with the common law because the common law was with the people, and the common law has not changed. It has been contended, and with ability, that in the common law we have a weapon with which to defend every right of the people which has of late years been assailed. Mr. Pound himself asks, "What is the spirit of the common law?" And he finds it to be, in effect, the spirit of the people, and that it has within itself the means of bringing it in touch with the spirit of the people. He finds the weapon at hand to be the police power.
