The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-09-01

cipally emanatcd from the minds of
American citizens and are the legiti.
mate outgrowth Of that system of gov
ernnett Of which our counties form a
part.
See, here to day, the thousands as
serlbled who a few short hours ago were
at their homes long miles away, and in
a few hours hence will be there again,
moving all the time with the ease and
comfort Of an afternoon visit at the
residence Of some friend: again, behold
the contrast! These mon whose names
we have preserved beneath that stone,
in their day would have been weeks, b.
rude conveyance and camping out, lii.
making such a round.
All me. Well | remember all their
faces. And I remember, too, many of
the faces of the wild Indians among
whom they came, to open up the viii
dcrness that has given place 20 all this
civilization we now enjoy. L knew
these men and how Trey lived. And [
saw the red men and their wives and
children torn from their homes here by
the soldiers and driven from the graves
of their fathers, almost in sight of this
spot where now | stand, by the sharp
bavonet of the soldier, leaving the land
for us.
And all these names of the early
Judges and members of the barlow
their forms and faces now come back to
me. The ~invinciblc, punning Ey>
erts: the English-like judge, S. c.
Sample; the Websterian locking lis
ton; the willy J~erncgan, the eloquent
IIannegan; the scholarly Brady; the
scientific Niles; the witty Orton;-i
cannot pause to name them all-but
their faces rise up before me as they
were. Some live yet; some have gone
to visit that bourne whence no tray
cler returns" But they were with us
and Of us; and no portion of the state,
or Of any state, has seen better lawyers,
truer men, or, as a class, those who have
left a better record. Peace to the ashes
of those who are gone q serene and
prosperous old age to those who are
left. 1t makes NE sad to 90 back in
memory to those early days and note
the havoc made by death. 1t makes
me proud to note the progress made
within the space upon which those men
have left the impress of their actions
and their thoughts. Within the walls
here to be erected, no p%rofounder logic.
no more thrilling cloqucncc, no more
sparkling wit, will e'er be heard than
has fallen from their lips-now cold in
the silent chambers OF the dead.
But the iiving claim IL attention.
Here before US is the foundation and
, about us arc the materials and the
/, workmcn; what shall come of it? A
beautiful and substantial structura, tc
battle with time and with the elements
, For what use? The administration OF
+ public Justice, the protection of private
| rights, the punishment for public
wrongs, the preservation Of the public
, records. Who shall inhabit here? Tho
servants of the people. BY what rulC
shall they be selected? Because OF
t their fitness, both as to capacity anc
r moral integrity, let is hope. What ;
: trust is here! Shall we ever have ;
, Jefries on the bench? God forbid
:; Shall Justice sit blindfold while Lno
/ rance in the person of her minister, tht
5 Judge, directs her to strike right or LEI
! with her sword without regard to the
5 right or without the ability to see which
: is right? Heaven forbid. Shall public
| opinion, founded on 1umor, walk int
+ the Jury-box and dictate the verde
| without regard to evidence! May
: lust system of education make it i'm
. possible. How shall We insure th'
r non-pollution of this temple and MAKE
it the fit home for justice to dwell in
r BY being just ourselves and fit to b.
her ministers. by rejecting dema
gogues. By respecting the law and 1t
; ministers, and by making them rcspcc
f us. Bv refusing to select them in part,
: or political caucus, and by selecting tn
c pures. and most competent men we have
and then paying them Il salary suillcien
e to command their attention to our cal
for their services, and pension then
: when they have served until they ar
o old. BY crushing, with the contcmp
C of an outraged public, the men who en-
e ter the political arena to use its contain
mating Influences to reach the bench
: Above all, having as a people permitte'
+ such a system to be inaugurated, an'
f many of IL GOOD men to be draggc,
i within its action against their sense Q
n right, let lis do away with 1t at the ear
i Hest possible moment, and recognize tn
fact-as patent as sunlight-that cheal
salaries command cheap men, and cheaI
men III degrade justice and bring tn
law into contempt; the lee tatioaS-th
mother Of anarchy-foilows.
u Ma, no such fate follow the imposin,
: ceremonies Of this day. May no sucl
( contamination pollutc the beautiful
: structure whose cornerstone has thi
> day been laid. May our judges be wis
lawyers and honorable gentlemen, an,
: may our people recognize their right t
: commensurate respect and compcnsa
:. ton. May our county Offices be AWAY
, filed by the best men we have who AZ
best fitted for the stations to be filled
= May our prosperity continue and on
county become the home of still create
. intelligence, industry and enterprise
and may the reputation of her publ
men be such as to bring to US the wealth
and intelligence from abroad which
= would seek resting place only amid al
honorable people, whose public servant
can be safely trusted with the publ