St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-07-22
Mistellanp.
FOOD FOR REFLECTION.

From the Fourth of July Grafton of
John 5. Holmes, delivered before the
citizens of Boston, we extract the fol-
lowing paragraphs in reference TO the
election of Judges 10y the people, the
dissolution of the Union, fanatacism
and Hypocrisy. Let every one read
them:
Pregnant illustration of the popular
feeling about Government is found in
the increasing desire that the judicial
Office be made elective. 1t was a sin.
gularly happy thought-rathcr, it was
sagacious prophecy of future danger
which led to the threefold separa-
tion of the power of Government into
the Executive, Representative and Ju-
dicial branches-each as distinct as
hand, and eye, and will. yet all agree
ing in common purposc-to keep
and protect the liberty of the State
and of all the States. This grand dis
tinction among the powers and duties
of Government has been lost in the
partisan discussion and action of the
day. 1t has even here, in the old, re-
vered Bay Statc--ever the last to lend
herself to that which did not concern
the common good-been attempted
that our Judges should be elected by
the people, and for limited time. This
| regard as the boldcst attack upon
the true liberties Of the people for an
hundred years. Who of all the honor.
cd men that have borne the title of
Judge in this State, from the eldest
till now, but has kept his intelligence
and integrity pure and strong for the
common benefit of all? Who has de-
graded himself and stained with dis
honor the lofty seat he has filled
And yet those who have the greatest
fear of the law, as they best deserve
its righteous penalties-the politicians
of this State, and equally thus in other
States-arc cndcavoring to bring to
the market the Office of judge, and to
put the judicial ermine upon level
with the skin of rabbit. Within our
memory have been incompatibilities
found where none existed, and Of
fees confounded and places given to
fools that had before been filled by
honorcd wisdom. If we surrender
this, the chief may say, the only
conservative part Of Government to
those who are seeking for selfish ends
to pervert Government to their own
uses and the prosperity of party, let
us know-lct us ever remember-that
We are parting the strongest bower
anchor of the Constitution-that we
are breaking in pieces the trucst com
pass, and flinging to the winds the
best chart of the noble old ship. Let
Justice descend from her pedestal
let her eyes discern between the we'll
favored and homely-let her scales be
iostled in the crowd--and how long
will men trust in her decisions ?-how
reverently will they reposc under her
authority? No; better far destroy
your household gods than despoil the
Temple of Public Justice. You may
weep in sorrow over them but ma
tion-the world feels the touch of
that profanity You may burn your
own little handful of books; but fire
not the library Of the Wisdom of the
world.
Partisan temper tends to make us
sectional in our political feeling, as it
narrows our political duty to the
bounds of party and substitutes for a
broad, all-embracing patriotism, de.
votion to the interests of part, and
not the whole. 1t makes us selfish
and aggressive, and to believe, or at
least to act, as if government was or.
dained for our interests, to satisfy on,
wants and sustain our peculiar ideas
Besides, as partisanship leads to allie
glance to leaders of a party, the senti
ment of the party is necessarily con
trolled by the policy and opinions oi
those leaders, and such men, seeking
their own fame and fortune, and avail
ing themselves Of their position to ex