Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1870-08-27
Ght Orf9oQ 3rpub,ifau.
COUNTY OFFICIAL PAPER.
DALLAS, SATURDAY, AUG. 27,
Our Second Reform.

JlIc OF during Soou DenaVlOr. tnlS we
hold to be, also, relic of monarchy.
1t may be asked why did not the franz
ers of. that instrument so understand it?
we answer, in all probability they did
SO understand the provision but, at
the time that instrument was framed,
all who are familiar with the history of
this republic we'll know that it was only
I BY the wisdom, sound judgment and
untiring efforts of such men as WASH
ington, and his patriotic compecrs, that
the people were enabled at all to change
from the old system of iudependencies
to nationality, and while they were
cognizant of the fact that principles of
monarchy still fingered with them, as
did absolute human slavery; yet it was
impossible for the revolutionary fathers
to effect all they desired to accomplish
at once, or even in one generation but
they saw plainly that the form of gov
ernment then existing must be chang
ed. and they accepted the very best
they could get at the time, and was
satisfied that, in doing what they did,
in establishing national government,
they had lain the foundation for pure
form of republicanism, aud, although
4 the pure and great minds of that day
would have gladly eradicated the very
evils OF which we now complain, to
gethcr with slavery, of which they
were then ashamed, it was impossible
and they left it for the legitimate work
of other generations who should suc>
eeed them. And now the time has
come when almost every man, woman
and even child, who has arrived at the
years of discretion, see, feel, and admit
that, in republic like that of the Uni
ted States, the idea of placing any one
man upon the bench, or in the posses,
. sion of any Office in the government,
with the complete power to retain it
and do as he pleases, and act as arbi
trdrily as he desires, against the will
and wishes of the people, who alone
are Sovereign only subject to removal
upon the commission of some crime for
which he could be impeached, is pre-
posterous and absolutely ridiculous
The idea of Office holders being consid
cred as merely servants of the people
and all supreme power resting with the
people, and at the same time the peo
pie, who alone possess the right TO com
mand, being compelled, by their owr
fundamental law, to submit to the dc
ta of one man for life, right OIL
! wrong, and that without remedy, is ;
proposition too silly to contemplate, and
is and has been for years the ridicult
of the people of every civilized natior
's on the ghbe. And what argumen
can be made in its favor? None, W,
think, which savors of good sense ant
true republicanism. We are awar,
. that our position is sometimes met b,
: the argument that the Judiciary is 81
different from any other branch of th,
government that, IN order to keep i
pure and unmixed with politics, it il
necessary that the Judges should hole
d for life.
If there is anything worthy of con
!. sideration in such logic as this, we ut
II terly fail to'see it. If this principle b.
true as to Judges of the Federal Gov
. ernment, then it would hold good il
the case of all the Judges under Stat,
organizations. because the judicial sys
tenn is the same everywhere, and in or
der to keep it pure, by this kind o
reasoning, every County Judge in tn
United States, yea, every Justice 0
the Peace and Probate Court ought t
be appointed or elected for life. Bu
how absurd the idea that 1t takes mel
outnof the political world, by placing
them upon the bench. They entertain
= sassstroDg partizan feelings as any set Q
men who live in this Government, ant
more dangerous in consequence of tn
life tenure Of their Office. It woulo
be just as reasonable, and moro, to sa.
that the laws of the land could not b
impartialiy administered unless th
President of the United States coul,
hold his Office for life; and if the Pres
ident, then all other Offices, and thel
hew much Of republicanism should w