Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-09-30
judicial Reform.

We deemed it our duty few
weeks since to administer what We
thought, and yet think, deserved
rebuke to Judges Cole and Wright,
of the Supreme bench of Iowa, for
lowering the dignity and character
of their high office, by entering
political conventions and there,
adopting the small arts of the dema-
gogue, figuring for the defeat or
advancement Of this or that aspirant
for judicial or other position. The
Davenport Gazette copies the para
graph, and dismisses the specific
charge therein made in an cvasive,
cavalier manner, which we appre-
bend will hardly prove satisfactory
to those especially, who attended
the last State Convention, and there
saw what we have suggested.
But it is not with this question of
fact that we wish to deal at this
time. We only allude to the sub
jcct for the purpose of introducing
the earnest appeal which the
Gazette makes for reform in our
whole judicial system, an appeal.
which we heartily endorse and com.
mend as well timed and sensible.
The evils of the present system, and
the abuses it invites, are not likely
to become less until constitutional
provision places the judiciary above
and beyond the reach Of political
influences. For the accomplish
mcnt of this alone we believe that a
Constitution Convention would pay,
and therefore favor n vote author.
izing it. But to the Gozette's arti-
Gle:
Under the system, rs it now
exists, it is well nigh impossible
for any Judge, no matter how pure
in intent and how careful in speech
and act, to altogether escape COM
plications with "tricky politician
and dcmagogues." In every politi-
cal party known to American his
tory, or ever to be known in the
future, there have been and will be
tricky politicians and demagogues,
and it is into the hands of just such
persons that Judge who is to be
nominated by political conventions
and elected by popular vote, will be
most likely to fall, even when most
DESTROYS Of escaping such fate. If
this fate has been that of the Judges
implicated by the Bulletin, and
they have in consequence to bear
ccnsure for the sins of others, the
evil is due directly to the system
which places the Judge squarely in
the political arena whether he will
or no. And if the facts be even
worse than stated; if the Judge be
sunk in the untiring seeker after po-
litical preterment, and our District
and Supreme benches are regarded
as but the stepping places to Con
gressional and Gubernatorial
honors, the people have only them
selves to thank. Popular preju-
dice, and a prevented view Of the
province and aim Of the elective
franchise, persist in offering to our
judges perpetual premiums to
efforts to be at once the slaves and
masters of the ro:r fopuH. Decis-
ions and DEGREES are often thus ask
ed for in the interest Of changing
moods Of popular opinion; and if
they were not sometimes granted,
or, at least, tempered, in Difference
to these admonitions Of popular
votes, the judges were more than
human. Therefore, we again plead
for judiciary reform, to be effected
by voting, on October 18th, for a
Congressional Convention, and then
by amending our present Constitu-
ton so as to provide that our judges
be appointed by the Governor, with
advice and consent Of the Senate, or
of the General Assembly in joint
convention,