Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-06-20
JUDGES AND COURTS.

The monopolists in the West, aided by their
friends everywhere, are getting up the cry
that the courts are in danger, because the
farmers Of Illinois have nominated aud elected
Judge committed to their view Of the rail-
road question. Railroads have controlled
courts, and even owned them, body and
clothes, for years, aud these guardians OF
the public morals have slept contcnted The
United States government has manipulated
the supreme court to ensure interpretations
Of law in accordance with partizan require
ments, the popular will, and oven the de.
mands of banks and capitalists, and it was all
right. But now the farmers, crowded to the
wall by the expressions Of monopoly, demand
and elect a Judge who is known to be an anti.
mouopolist, aud 10! q crisis is upon the coun.
try.
The fact is, and sad it is that the corrup.
tion affecting the public men of the time af
fccts the judges Of our courts as 1t does our
legislators and executive officers. The honor
due to honest courts no one would desire to
withhold, but it is impossible to disguise the
fact that such courts are getting scarce. One
who wishes to keep up in his breast the old
time respect for the Judiciary, had better
keep away from court houses A smart
sharp lawyer, with the flexible conscience Of
the craft, is no less smart, sharp and flexible
when placed, by intrigue and wire pulling
upon the bench. He may cover those char
acteristics with thin varnish of deccncy
he may strive to avoid acts that well attract
public attention by their manifest venality
but the rights of the people and of individu
ais are not safe in his hands when it is tht
interest Of men Of wealth or political inau
ence that they should be betrayed,
Some old iogies see in this state Of thing
an argument against an elective judiciary
But undor the old system of appointment
there were numerous evils and the electiv,
system was tried to get rid Of them. 1t did
get rid Of some of them, and but for the de
moraization of the times, and the abdicatiol
of popular sovereignty that has left the man
agement Of public affairs in the hands Of eau
cuses and rings, the elective system woulC
he every way preferable. IL is preierabl,
now, inasmuch as it leaves in the hands o
the people, when aroused AN immediate mean
of reform. Judges truly elected by the PEG
pie would nearly always be able and homes
men it is only because, while nomnally 5,
chosen, they have really been appointed b,
trading political rings in place Of the old ex
ocutiyo appointment, that we see what we d.
see. " Eternal vigilance is the price Of lib
erty," and without vigilance evory popula
right is ever in danger at the hands Of me-
seeking wealth Ond power by secret combina
tons and unholy arts,
Popular patience, aud popular creduity 0
those who prophesy smooth things, is abou
exhausted The fight that has been begu
by the farmers Of the West is going to be a
big thing in its way as the fight agains
slavery,--as bitter, and perhaps as long 70
these profitable abuses die hard. The pos
session of the courts by the party of honest
and reform is essential and the leaders Of tn
western movement understand the fact an
move on that part of the enemys works iirs
1t shows brains and good gencralship.