Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-02-07
ruv monEoF ELECrING JUDGES,

The great mpjoriiy of the people DO
mt desire the election Of Judges by the
neonle. A decisive test of this is. that
The election of Judges scarcely ever caiis
out a full vote, and rarely more than the
vote of half the electors. Another test
is:iuouire among your friends and neigh
bors. and il will be found that the Sob
stautial and intelligent men, with scarcely
an exception, approve of the popular
election Of Judges. Pursue the inquiry
among the less Intelligent classes Of citi'
zsps. and it will be fonnd that small
fraction only Of them feel any concern
about the election of Judges By thu pso-
pie.
How, then, does Il happen that the
popular election of Judges isssisblishedf
The answer is easy. First, aspirants to
Office of the demagogue kind-and most
of them are of this quality, more or less
eudeavor to adop. their sentiments to
catch the favor aud votes Of the classes
of voters who are least intelligent and
least virtuous, and who lie about loose
aud floating, and are to be caught by
psndering 10 their ignorance and prtJu-
dices and vices Any one who will
notice candidates, will observe that they
give much more concern to obtain the
votes of these classes than they do TO
obtain the favor of the more intelligent,
yirtuous and substantial cissseL Little
is to be gained BY electioneering With
sensible and good men; everything is to
be made by elechoneeriug with the igno-
rant, the depravsd, and the reckless
Further, there is q class OF lawyers
who do much, Il not most, to sustain the
election of Judges by the people. tits .
class Of low grade IS lawyers. Such
lawyers have a email chance to beaome
Judges, If the election depends on the
nomination Of the Governor and the
sanction Of the Senate. They can get
no respectable recommendation 70 the
Governor to justify bis nomination Of
them. And if be should nominate q
lawyer Of ihst sort, be still would have to
ran the gauntlet Of the Senate, AMI
stand a very good etsuoe to drop there
The truth is, the election Of
judges By the nomination Of the
Governor and approval Of the Senate Is
the mode which best secures the election
Of the best class OF lawyers; while, on
the other hand, the mode OF popular
election gives better chance TO the infs-
rior run Of the legal fraternity. Hence.
everywhere the third-rste lawyers Of the
demsgogue sort, such as have not meri,
enough to obtain livelihood By personal
industry and integrity. aud who must OBJ
tain livelihood in some way short Of
sheer thisving, are always in favor Of the
election Of judges BY the people. The
dear people is the morning aud evening
cong Of these cattle, and their midday
song also.
Good men everyShers deplore the de-
generaeJ Of judicial ofheera Il has been
the pride and glory Of The Americas
Judiciary. until Of late years, that there
was no stain on lite escutchsoa. The cor
ruptiou Of Judge vas sa eaormiiT al
heard OF. Recently. and where the pop
uIAr election prevails, it has ceased to b
a thing Of ssskly wonder-,he buyiui
and selling Of Jodges The Judee haI
snuk as=s to the Level dep'h Of an Alder
man. He is ia The msrkes tor sale. Is 9
member Of Congress or The Legislature
All this has e0us freu The POpuisl