THE ETHICS OF LYING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3767, 4 June 1907, Page 3

THE ETHICS OF LYING.

In the course of an address to the High Court iu Sydney, Sir Julian Salomons referred to what might be called the morality of expediency. “I do not believe in lying,” he said. It is a wickedness to do it. But if a man came into this court with a loaded revolver, thinking that the Chief Justice had acted mistakenly in deciding against him, I should distinctly tell him that the gentleman in the chair was Sir Frederick Darlcy, and Sir Samuel Griffith was not there. That would be an absolute lie from top to bottom, but I would be actuated by respect for something higher,” A few minutes later Sir Julian Salomons amplified this argument by relating what has occurred in the United States at the time of the Civil War. The Supreme Court decided that the Government had not the power to legally issue inconvertible paper money. ithout such power money to carry on the war could not be found, and when two members of the court died, care was taken to appoint as their successors lawyers who were known to hold the opinion that such currency could be issued. When the appointments were made the point was re-argued, and the court gave the decision that was desired. The result was that the war went on, no less than worth of paper money being issued for the purpose. “Showing how mistaken people are in attacking a democracy,” remarked Sir Julian Salomons, “that great republic has not only paid this off, but it has balance which is always being demanded by such clamorous claimants as discharged soldiers and their relations.”