THE CRUSADER

Although the words "liberal" and "democrat" are becoming more and more meaningless, they are the only adjectives that can adequately describe the character and work of Louis Brandeis. For this man throughout his career has been a fighter for the democratic ideal. Never content with a single triumph, he realized that the only safeguard of democracy was eternal vigilance. And this idea prompted his unceasing opposition to the forces of reaction, as his background so well illustrates.

In his youth Louis Brandeis forced the passage of the social insurance laws through the Massachusetts legislature while his enemies branded him a dangerous radical. Although his dislike of the "red menace" doctrine during the war impaired his chances of appointment to the Supreme Court, he nevertheless courageously regarded the drive as a menace to civil liberties. And once on the high bench, there never was any question of his compromising with what was hostile to his liberal tenets. Rarely did Louis Brandeis agree with his conservative colleagues; because of his celebrated minority opinions, vritten in league with his great contemporary Justice Holmes, the phrase "Holmes and Brandeis dissenting" has become famous in the annals of Court history. Now that the opinions of the high tribunal have in recent years come more closely to conform with his own, it is certain that there will be others to carry on the liberal tradition.

Perhaps it was this feeling that his influence was no longer necessary that prompted his resignation; perhaps "the crusader" will fight for the cause of democracy in other fields. Harvard men, justly proud of his accomplishments, can only hope that a desire to use his talents where they were more needed dictated his retirement from the bench. For, at a time when democracy looks to defend itself from the onslaughts of bigotry and intolerance, the complete loss of the keen mind and tremendous ability of Louis Brandeis would be irreparable.