The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-25

Out give temporary Mel. Inc OtABinA up
pointing power gave satisfaction once, and
was the proper depository for it under our
system of government. It became debauched
from the possession of this patronage. Does
any one suppose that the new repositories
will not become debauched also in short
timer The result Of il will be to make us
lose all faith in our system of government, If
there be no way to improve our rulers unless
by dispossessing them OF all the powers
which our free Government requires should
be left in their hands.
The favorite depository of power with US
now is the judiciary. They very justly have
the public confidence, which is soon likely to
be the cause of their destruction. Over
worked and underpaid, we have thrown all
sorts of political patronage upon them with
which they have and should have no earthly
concern. We do not permit them to appoint
the clerks of their own courts which they
should do, but allow them to appoint the
controllers of the schools, who manage vast
amounts of money, and now the trustees of
our charities, not to mention the inspectors
of iails and penitentiaries and commissioners
of the park.
If any commentary were wanting in this
matter, the late appeal to the court furnishes
it. Here is the court of last resort in our
State called on to decide whether they them
selves have the right under the law to con-
troll this matter or some other body. They
decide for themselves. AS they were elected
before any corrupt or INSCRIPTIONS man
thought it worth while to go upon the bench,
no one suspects them of interested motives.
But you have now made the bench bait for
unscrupulous men, and why will not their
SUCCESSORS sell controllerships and trustee
ships as members of Congress now sell ap-
pointments to West Point and the Naval
Academy
But the plan of comforting powers of this
character upon the judiciary was tried years
ago here, and resulted just as this attempt
will result Our courts held the power of
granting tavern licenses, and though the
judges themselves were not thought to be
corrupt the whole matter was so managed by
their subordinates as to make the business
public scandal, and it was wrested from the
courts amid the acclamations of the whole
community. So with the appointment of
auditors, that was SO managed as to bring
upon the court, the public censure. A COM
mittee of the Legislature investigated
this matter, and laws we're passed forbidding
the judges appointing their relatives. We
now have new outcry on this very subject,
showing that the judges cannot bestow the
legitimate patronage of their own courts to
the public satisfaction. What will be the re-
suit when they are vested with the vast politi-
cal powers now proposed? 1t is clear from
the appointment to these very trusts. The
object was to take them entirely out of poll
tics, and the court appoint as trustees some
of the most active politicians of the two
political parties. These gentlemen may
be as. honest as you please, but
they cannot take anything out of politics. Our
conclusion now is, that this comforting on the
courts powers which have no connection with
the administration of justice may for a little
while be of some benefit, but that it will
inevitably fail in the end and will destroy
entirely the confidence of the people in their
Judiciary. .....
This is the one department of the Govern
ment in which the public have confidence.
The legislative and executive departments
have long since been despaired of. Let the
Judiciary at least ''be not led into tempta-
ton" --.