The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1871-04-20
9ug JUpICIlRY.

In government, the maintenance Of IN
honest, upright incompatible and un-
wavering judiciary is of the greatest inn
portance. On courts of Justice depend the
longevity, happiness and security of So
clety, and when they are gone, or have be-
como iniquitous machines of tyranny,
then comes q night Of blood and terror.
When party spirit runs as high as it
does in the United States, politics inter-
feres, perhaps unintentlonaily, in the de-
cision of the judge; and courts, like leg
lative bodies have their leaders, and it
may happen that one individual clothed
with judicial power by one decision will
overturn the delibcrative act of State,
or of the United States, upon which the
wisdom and the labor Of the greatest men
of the age have been employed in It's
passage. People are apt to overlook the
frailities and passions of the man that
occupies the bench Ito which they are
subjected like any one else), and by rea-
son of their superior learning and capac-
ity receive their decision with the faith
and credence that were given to the De-
pbic oracles. Now their decisions and
judgements should be subject to revision
by some competent tribunal, responsible
to the people, and should be criticised
and commented upon as much as the &C
ton of any individual. To courts Of
justice may be attributed one half Of the
great crimes of history. 1t was the judg-
ment of court that doomed the immOr-
tai philosopher of Greece to drink the
hemlock When the Roman tyrant could
no longer use hired sOldiery to immo-
late the victims of his jealousy, he re-
sorted to courts ofIaw. When the eighth
Henry of England would exercise cruel
despotism under free constitution, it
was the potent power Of the court that
sustained him. Monarchs, Chieftans ami
the church have prostituted courts to
their qualification of love of rcvnge,
and their heretical and bigoted notions
of matters of State, religion and policy.
The fonIest crimes have been winked at
by corrap: Judiciary, and every page of
history is stained with their vile imprint.
OF course, in our advanced stage OF
progress of the present day, when the
baser pass'on have given away to the
softcning influences Of higher civiliza-
ton; when freedom of speech, freedom
Of the press and freedom of action, uE-
by the despotic sway of bru-
tai men pervail; when equality of citi-
senship is gaining the ascendency, and
he ridiculous theory that the King can
10 no evil" has disappeared in the gloom
# the almost forgotten past; when
men have been taught their inalienable
lights and propose to have them when
ii these results of orr modern civiliza-
ion aer brought to view, no one can
expect a repetition Of the :
nOrmous crimes done in the name of /,
ustice, as are recounted on the page of
history; still, men have the same love
f money, the same love of power and :
he same frailties and prejudices that be- :
'nged TO those of the past, snd in a !
lilder form, perhaps, are liable to make !
ourts Of justice engines of the most alb T
nIufa insuof:.o
Hence, men that are to I'll julic:al Off ]
IS should be known as men of the great N
1t integrity and honesty, known as such c
nong their neighbors in the common I;
alks Of life; known as such in official E
'sition, and tried in "many well fought i,
cid" Of worldly experience, having ever y
,rne the palm Of true manhood as well 4 Z,
that of an incompatible heart. These r
tributes are far more important than !,
e popular notion of legal acumen, and (
ridicial knowledge, and learning. Q