Weekly Trinity journal., 1871-09-23
THE JUDICIAL ELECTION,

NOW that the more exciting election is over,
voters should not forget that another is soon to
take place, and although it is not generally con-
sidered to be as important the one just passed,
1t is nevertheless of sufficient consequence to
call every voter in the State to the polls that he
may cast his ballot in favor of those whom he
shall deem best qualified for the positions to be
filled. One Justice of the Supreme Court is to
be elected for the full term and one for the resi-
due of the unexpired term of Justice Sanderson
also a State Superintendent of Public lnstruc-
! ton. In this county, the voters will be called
upon to select a County Judge, to serve two
years from the lst of January, and two Justices
of the Peace in each township to serve four
years. We know that it is almost impossible to
get out full vote at these Judicial elections,
and that Republicans, more particularly, are the
ones who stay away from the polls, but when
we consider the candidates of the two opposing
parties, for the Offices of Supreme Judges and
Superintendent of Public Instruction, and re-
gard them In the light of their qualifications for
the respective offices, we believe it TO be the du-
ty of every Republican and all others who be-
lieve that fitness, rather than political princi-
pies should govern the choice for these posi-
tions, to go to the polls the 18th day of Octo-
Der next and cast their votes in favor Of Rhodes,
Niles and Bolander.
The position of Justice of the Supreme Court
in reality has no political bearing whatever, still
we agree with the Sacramento Union that there
is proprety in having q Supreme Bench COM
posed of men of both political parties inasmuch
as it gives assurance to the people that there
will be no partisan bias in the judgments of the
Court" Should the Republican nominees be
elected, three Democrats and two Republicans
will compose the Supreme Bench. A. L..
Rhodes, candidate for the full term, is at pres
ent Chief Justice, and has been on the Supreme
Bench for the past eight years, during which
time he has always discharged his duty in a
satisfactory manner. A. c. Niles, candidate for
the short term, is a man of superior legal ability
and has had an extensive experience on the
Bench of Nevada county. Both these men are
competent and fully qualified in every respect,
and it is further claimed that they possess legal
knowledge far superior to that of their oppo-
nents.
GOt superintendent OF IuDilC instruction. tue
Republicans have put forward Professor Henry
N. Bolander, of San Francisco, fine scholar as
well as an experienced teacher, and one who has
devoted much of his life to educational inter
ests. Like the candidates for. the Supreme
Bench, be is not politician and having no po-
litical preudices is just the man for the head of
the Educational Department of this State. On
the other hand, the Democracy have re-nomina-
ted Rev. 0. P. Fitzgerald, the present incum-
bent, of strong political prejudices, and
one who is entirely behind the age in education
al matters. Parents will not forget that this
same Parson Fitzgerald, of the Methodist Church
South upon first assuming the position he now
occupies and for which be is again candidate,
conceived the bright idea of changing the text
books used in the Public Schools, and adopting
series which was in vogue in tour grand-fath-
er rs days, " but long since discarded as worth
less in comparison with the later publications
which were in use in the schools Of this State
when Fitzgerald made the change. This change
of textbooks, it is estimated, has cost the par
ents of this State at least half million Of dol
lars, which amount has gone into the pockets
of few book-makers, except, it is intimated,
percentage which went into the purse of this
| Confederate preacher. 1t is important that a
man of Fitzgerald's bigotry and prejudices
should not be allowed to meddle with our excel
lent public school system, but that we should
have Superintendent of Public Instruction who
is liberal in his views, and willing to sacrifice
his own opinions, to a certain extent, for the
benefit of the rising generation. Such a man is
Henry N. Bolander, and every voter in the State
of California who is interested in the Public
Schools should go to the polls on Wednesday,
October 18th, 1871, and declare him to be their
choice.