The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-04-03
> q Partisan Judiciary.

&el% u 3 dltiSnu u
The curse of any people is partisan ju>
dietary. Any system fot the election or
appointment Of judges which makes rar-
tisanj judiciary possible deserves unqualified
rcprobation. The coutrs should be the de-
tcnsc of the people against partisan selfish
ness, hate and aggression. AS matters are,
half the courts in the United States are the
reliable allies of the party which placed
them in power Not content with this
fact. Congress is nov attempting to reduce
tire highest court in the country to partisan
subsection, and if it can have iss own way
it will succeed in the attempt Or destroy the
authority and jurisdiction Of the court.
Unfortunately Wisconsin is not independ
ent of the mischicvous influences which
usually give partisan character to courts.
For the past ten years We are not aware
that the Supreme Court of this State has
ercr decided any question adversely to the
supposed interest of the controlling politi
cal influence at Madison. We do not
question the personal integrity OF the court.
We do not assert that Judge Dixon, Judge
Paine or Judge Taylor would consciously
violate his oath in the decision of any par
tisan issue. But it is the fault of the sys-
TEN chat the judges must generally be men
Unknown political views, or their nomina
ton and election is an impossibllity. AT
ter election they may decide according to
their consciences, but their conSciences and
the platform Of the dominant party are u.s.
ually required to be in happy accord before
election.
We believe the democratic candidates at
The present election as free from this objec-
ton as any three men that could have been
selected from among the whole people o.
the State. Judge Dunn is a man so con>
stituted by nature that he would soorn any
control Of his opinions by partisan infuen-
ccs. His prcdominating faith OH questions
Bipartisan cxpediency is that every party,
including his own, better perish at once
than to array itself against law and right.
1t is the governing princlple Of his life in
these matters that the law and the right
must prevail though the party die. If
elected to the bench, the people of all par
ties may depend upon it that he will never
be found bolstering up any party at the
expense of justice and law. Mr.. Ellis is a
uan OF equally positive and impartial char
octer. lie was never a partisan and will
never become oue His whole life has
been devoted to his profession, and no con,
sideralion could induce him to swerve
from his conscientious purpose as lawyer
or a judge. He is, moreover, free from
every partisan interest or prejudice, having
nerer taken an active part in political con
tiicts, for which he has no inclination.
Mr. Mclean is a man Of unquestioned
ability and integrity. He has been in the
practice of the law 10 Fond du Lac for the
last twelve years, aud has built up for him
self reputation for fair dealing, and legal
ability, second to that of no lawyer in the
State; and, as au undeniabIe proof Of this,
h. has the support of the entire bar Of his
county. Politically, he has always stood
by the Democratic party-frmly advocat-
ing Its principles, and beating back the
wild waves of fanaticisn that rolled up
against it, during those days that tried
men S souls.
And when he takes his seat upon the Ju-
dicial bench, We shall have the assurance
that the same firm adherence to right and
justice will govern him. That, judicially
as we'll as politically, he.will allow no pas
siou. or fanaticism, OF favoritiSm, to inhu-
tnce his action.
Is Judge Taylor free from charges of
party feeling, favoritism, ETC., while on the
bench?
Then let us have change in our Circuit,
and, If possible, in our Supreme Court
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