The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-08-18
Prom the Wayne county Herald.
Who will be our Judge!


We are accostcd with the above inter
rogation many times each day, by per-
sons of all parties, and they arc compel
led to leave US no wiser from our answer.
As a matter of course we know nothing
of the result of the judicial contest, and
very little Of the prospects of any candi-
date. In this county the matter is seldom
mentioned, and from that fact we must
conclude there is but little interest taken
in the issue between rival candidates;
while in the remaining counties of the
District there are unmistakable 81 gns of q
more Jealous contest.
However little, VIC are free to acknowl-
edge, VIC know of the prospects and do
ings OF any candidate, VIC are not willing
to say We have no choice in the selection.
We have a decided choice, and that is
for him who can reach the Bench, free
from political blemish, and unsurrounded
by "friends to reward or enemies to pun
ish." We are therefore opposed to any
candidate who is unable to secure his
nomination aud election without mingling
in personal and bitter political canvass;
for, however pure may be his motives as
Judge, there is something in the ma
ture of the inner, man, that allows him to
imbibe prejudices, which will work injus
tice, unperccived by the oppressor, thong b
not unfe!t blythe oppressed. 1t is wise
and well settled maxim, that Jud &c,
whose opinions and decisions in court, are
supposed to be tinged by his political
considerations and prejudices, is pronoun-
ced unfit to hold seat upon the bench
The deep feelings that politics excite in
the human breast, are experienced By too
many to be denied. The ties of blood,
church, marriage, and business, are all
too weak to rule the strong preferences
Of politician. They may modify his ac
tons, but seldom separate him from his
political friends.
Some may say this is novel position
for democrat to take in a never failing
democratic district, but it is mono the
less the only one that should be taken by
the Press. The best, and We sometimes
think the only argument ever produced
against the elective judiciary, was that it
induced candidates to seize upon local
politica! prcjudicies, to secure their cleo
ton, and thereby carry with them upon
the Bench those biased feelings towards
persons and localities, that must wrap
their Judgement and make their judicial
acts obnoxious and oppressive. Hence it
is that every preventive should be regard
ed in the selections of our Judges, and
when it is impossible to find neutral pol
itician qualified for that high trust, We
should be sure to discriminate between an
honorable party man and a managing po-
litical demagogue. To carry this point
a little further, we will say, that any law
yer whose popularity as gentleman, and
a scholar, is insufficient to procure him an
election, without resort to low manage
ment and personal electioneering, should
be considered unworthy of that Office,
and consequently proper subject for an
effectual opposition. We are strongly
inclined to that belief, and if We do not
mistake the general feeling in this coun-
ty, there are many others on the same
platform.
There is no officer in the government who
has Sc direct and unchecked power O.
yer the property, liberty aud life of his
as that of President Judge
If his heart is against party in Court,
his power to crush him is equal to his de-
sires. lie can wield the sccptre of his
Office for ten long years, and his victims
may pray to God for redress, for in most
cases there is DO other superior to repair
the wrong. The lengthy tenure of a
Judge, and the almost unlimited power
reposed in his hands, should induce the
utmost scrutiny Of the heart and of the a.
bilities, before any candidate is pronoun-
ced worthy Of the Bench. We trust the
good citizens, not only oftbis county, but
of every county in the district, will move
with proper care in the primary elections,
and by no act of theirs, nor from any pro-
fessions of candidates, be committed in
behalf Of an unworthy and unqualified as
pirant.