The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-04
The PENNSYLVANIA Election.

The following stirring appeal to the Republi-
cans of Pennsylvania appears in the New York
Tribune of to-day, and is so earnest in its tone,
and so thoroughly covers the ground, that we
republish it with our warmest endorsement
"There is one point, not precisely political,
which ought to be carefully considered by the
people of Pennsylvania next Tuesday They
are to elect Supreme Court Judge not as we
do here in New York, for three or four years,
but for the extraordinary term of fifteen years
practically, for life. The longer the term of
Office the more important the event. and the
more Weighty the responsibility of the voter
In minor offices, where we can shift from year
TO year, the matter may be comparatively
trivial, made so by the insignifcance of the
official and the brevity of his term. But here
is an extreme case; the character and direction
OF the Supreme Bench of the second State in
the Union is at issue; whoever succeeds in
reaching that most honorable position, re-
mains there-death only yinterfering-until half
the voters who made him judge are in their
graves.
I'VE do not propose a criticism of personal
fitness, nor do we repel IL. Henry Williams is
the regular and honored nominee OF the Re
publican party, and we most ardeutly hope and
work for his election. Why? Because he is
true, loyal, able, thoroughly qualified man; be.
cause he is the unanimous choice of the party
and therefore represents the governmental
policy and the local issues for which we
humbly labor. OF his fitness there can be
no question not born OF malice. He is in the
prime of life, with mental faculties in full
vigor; he has had sixteen years experience upon
the bench; he has had an unusually thorough
judicial education and training; he has been
one of the ablest and most successful lawyers in
the State; his breadth of information in the
studies OF the profession is most extraordinary,
reaching not only to the common questions of
the courts, but running into all the special in
quiries likely TO come before the bench shat ne
ought so soon to adorn. His character for up
rlghtness, integrity, and high morality is be-
yond question. He has the respect, confidence,
and esteem of all who know him His decisions
and rulings during the sixteen years he has
been upon the bench have commanded very
general acquiescence; and even when appealed
from they have been in a large majority of cases
affirmed, often with very marked expressions of
approval from the court above, which has fire.
quently been satisfied to affirm the Judgment
solely for the reasons expressed by the judge
below.
ave deprecate the entrance of partisan feel
ings into any canvass for Judicial officers This
case would be no exception were 1t not that
the other side force II upon us. A Democrat
knows no compromise; party infuses his whole
being, and no act that has not partisan signi-
ficance meets his approval. Therefore, the Re-
| publicans of Pennsylvania, who desire to elect
| for their chief judicial officer man of rare
ability and most fitting aoquireme nts, are op-
posed-not on the ground of their candidates.
| dtpess, but because he is not an old bunker
| Tacksonian dyedin the-wool Democrat
"If this were the only question, we might
| mass IL over in silence The man who prefers
an inferior judge OF his own faith TO tirst-class
| Judge OF any other faith, is fool of the first
water. we arc not going to tnveigh against