The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-18

nut street to give us, on the first day of
October next, the names of fifteen Republican
lawyers in this city who will vote for Shars-
wood; or the names of too hundred and fly
Republican voters Of Philadelphia who will
vote for him; or the name of one Republican
judge in the State who will vote for him.
Our people are beginning to realize that the
contest this fall is simply initiatory to the
national contest next year, and they will not
permit the disloyal party to get the advantage
of position for that fight by rushing through
candidate on his personal popularity. GEN
tlemen, it won't do. Try something else.
Concerning the Purity of our Local
Judiciary.
In the North american ReUie0 for July is an
extended article on the subject of the Judiciary
of New York city, which is in character rather
an expose than criticism. Supposing all its
statements to be true-and the high character
of the Rerie,O is good guarantee--the cor
ruption of the New York bench must rival
that of Great Britain in the days of Bacon and
Jeffreys. 1t seems as though justice was de-
MED except for bribery, and that of all lucra-
tive positions that of New York Judge is
the richest. The article divides the cause of
the corruption into different heads, and seeks
a cause for each species of evil. Thus, we
are told that the vast patronage in the hands
of the bench is one reason, and the irresponsi-
bility of the Judges is another, and many
others; and the writer deduces the
conclusion, if not in words at least by in
ference, that an appointed and not an
elective Judiciary is the only method of secur-
ing honest dispensers of public justice. So
far as New York city is concerned, we think
that the deduction is perfectly correct. The
fact that out of one hundred and twenty thou
sand votes over seventy thousand are polled
by foreign-born citizens, and that the worst
class of the people rule the political parties we
think makes it imperatively necessary to place
in other hands the power which the people are
not qualified to exercise. In the hands of the
Governor of New York the selection of judges
would be much better lodged than with a
clique or packed convention.
But because such is true so far as New York
is concerned, it does not follow that the same
defects exist in Philadelphia and other Evil
lages," where the primal simplicity of the
people has not led them to delegate all their
political power to foreigners and aliens. We
do not consider that the good Judges that
Philadelphia has been blest with are 'acci-
dents" Nor is it at all likely that the day
| will ever come when we will have bad Judges.
1t has been many years since the city of Phi
| ladelphia selected her own judicial officers.
| Nearly twenty years have elapsed since the
act of incorporation made that provision, yet
we have never yet been afflicted with bad, or
even mediocre Judge. The reason for this
we think is found in the established policy OF
the bar to create controlling influence in the
Judicial Convention.
| 1t matters not which party makes a good
choice, the other must do likewise in order
that their candidate may stand some chance OF
success; and so long as the political parties Of
Philadelphia continue so equally balanced, SO
long will'we be assured of having good Judges.
Neither dare put up party candidate who
has no requisites but party services for such q
| place, for the gentlemen of our city who hold
the balance OF power would evidently support
the best man. The purity, therefore, of the
bench demands that contest be made for the
position of Judge whenever it becomes vacant
| If once an idea prevails that there will be nc
opposition, we will find the selections descend
to second-class nominees.
It is only the absolute necessity of good
selection, in order to succeed, that secures for
us a judiciary so far superior to that of New
York. We, therefore, are doubly opposed
to the idea started recently, that there should
be no nomination made by the Republican
party for the post of Associate Judge. W.
are opposed to it because it will inaugurate
, precedent dangerous to the continued purity
oil our bench; for although in the present cast
the opposition may have an honest and abl'
. candidate, 1t does not follow that the next can
7 dldate Tor untresal favor will be other than
r popular man; and, secondly, because we do no
desire tosee an Office within our reach pass int
+ the hands Of our opponents. II is the equa
= balance OF parties and the certainty of a con
d test that has given us good Judges, and W
d deem it exceedingly inexpedient to have th
S precedent established Of allowing judg t
h assume the erm.ne without the peonle hayin
a choice between him and a oompetifor. Onl
by following the old policy OF a contest oai
Is merit be permanently secured and tha banoI
of Philadelphia made safe from the oorrn ntion
now disgraoiDg that Of New York.