Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-08-12
PaRTsES---JUDGES.

Political parties have their use anu also their
abuse and it is certainly the part of wisdom, while
we enjoy the former to shun the latter We sup
pose the legitimate use of political parties to be,
to put forward establish and sustain the political
principles on which they are based; and we sup
pose the most prominent feature of their abuse at
the present time is, that their strength and organ
ization are used for individual gain and advance
ment, where the principle is in no respect whatey
or involved. The bad effects OF this abuse arct two
fold-frs, it fills the ranks of the dominant party
with mercenary and unprneipled men who get all
the Offices and emoluments, because they belong to
the party for that purpose and seek them, and who
from their position corrupt and destroy the honest
and well disposed members of which, the pre-
sent dominant party of this state furnishes very
striking ustraton;-and second, the wants and
interests of the people of the state suffer and
sacrificed by putting into Office men without spe
cial qualifications for the duties assigned, on the
mere ground of partisan services rendered. Illus
trations Of this latter fact are on every hand and
might be referred to particularly, if il were at all
necessary AS we remarked, these evils which
now severely aifiict our state arise from the fact
that a rarity which is strong and dominant because
of protested attachment to democratic principle,
and Il protested purpose TO establish such princi-
pies, its strength and organization in connec
sion with places and offices not in the most remote
degree connected with politics, for the mere pur-
pose of individual gain and advancement. At the
present time the democratic politicians expect their
pay for services rendered just as regularly and
confidently as the day-laborer expects his wages !;
indeed it is not long since the Democratic State
Organ boldly proclaimed that if the leaders were
not to have their pay, there was no " aduceme,t +"
to be democrat.
Yet not satisfied with the evils already suffer
ed by the people, first, in degrading politics to a
mere mercenary scramble for place and money,
and second, III dragging every thing into the filthy
pool, it is now sought TO reduce the Judiciary of
the state to the same degraded and corrupt level.
The KenoSha Democrat contains a call for de-
mocratic convention to nominate a candidate for
county Judge and intimates design to have one
for circuit Judge 1t objects to both Mr. Jsun
and Judge Spooncr, not for any want of merit on
their part, but simply because they are not mem
bers of the Democratic party. What is the mea-
ming of it? Why simply this: must have parti-
sans on the bcnch-mcn who will feel and know
their indebtedness to the democratic party, and
conduct themselves accordingly 1t won't do to
have an Independent Mass Convention to desig-
nate candidates, for under such circums tanccs q
Judge, instead of being the Judge of the dcmocra-
tic party might be a Judge for the whole people,
irrespective of party, No; we must have q demo
cratic convention, SO the candidates may know
who are their friends and who their enemies to adj
minister justice accordingly. The Democrat says
the office of Judge has some political Importance.
This we deny. If Judge does his duty it has not
and never will have 1t has political importance
Just as you drag it into the sphere of politics and
no further: and elect the Judge party candi-
date, and very soon il will have none other than q
political Importance The bench made and crca-
ted as a reward for partisan services, becomes a
mere machine by which friends are rewarded and
enemies punished.
But loob little further. The interest of the
people is to have on the bench the best man for
the place who can be found in the district Sup
pose case: suppose for instance the ablcst jurist
in the nation resides in this district, but happens
to DO a whig: our democratic convention can not
nominate this best man: it did not come together
for that purpose; itcomc together to nominate the
best partisan, which it docs, and then expects the
people to take this partisan instead of the best man
simply because he is partisan.
DO the people desire this state of things? Judge
Wilton was elected in this district as an Indepcn
dent candidate against democratic nominee.
Are the people not satisfied with that result! Our
constitution provides that Judicial election shall
not be held within thirty days of general election
for the express purpose.of keeping it out of the
sphere of ordinary politics. Are the people not
satisfied with that provision of the constitution?
Do they wish it repealed and nullifed in the man
ner proposed by the Democracy
We by no means expect a candidate for Judge
either to be- to have been without political
tmcntS but we do desire that he shall not be made
a Judge primarily because of his political senti-
mcntS, nor be the candidate of political party,
for reasons already stated. And we have con
fdcncc that as heretofore, the people will rebukc
all attempts TO drag the Judiciary into the field of
politics