New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-15
BEAKESIYG or CAUCUS RULE.

The Connecticut Legislature adjourned last
week leaving three vacancies on the bench OF
the Superior Court, the failure to fill them
arising from disagreeing vote between the
two Houses, which the politicians failed to
reconcile or compromise. No great harm is
done in leaving the seats vacant, inasmuch as
the present Judges can with a little additional
labor perform all the service required, and
the delay and inconvenience to suitOrs will be
quite inconsiderable. The members of the
present Court should, and we believe will,
GLADLY assume the added burdens rather
than have the bench and the State disgraced
by unfit judicial appointments which the rule OF
the caucus threatened. The precedent of last
wear, when the caucus nominee for U. 5. Sena-
tor was defeated and Senator Ferry reelected,
has already borne good fruit in this result. 1t
was a peculiar combination of circumstances
that led last year to the defeat Of Gen. Haw-
ley and the overthrow of the caucus In that
instance, and most Of the Democrats
who assisted the boiling Republicans to
elect Ferry have since repented their
weakness and expressed their regret,
Mr. Ferry having somewhat disappointed
their expectations. But they builded great
deal better than they knew. 1t was much
easier for three or four Senators this year to
act independently of caucus in the choice Of
Judges, than it would have been without the
precedent furnished them in Mr.. Ferry's cleo
ton. They did themselves great credit and
the State much honor in standing up to their
convictions and refusing to bow to the die
tates of the caucus or the behests of an ar
rogant party leader.
THE TRIBUNE has heretofore expressed its
opinion upon the subject Of judicial appoint
ments. The action of the Connecticut Legis-
lature only confirms its view of the subject
Wherever the appointment of Judges is in the
hands of the Legislature, there is sure to be
an indecent scramble by utterly unfit men for
the places and the Office which, above all
others, should be out of the reach of political
acknowledgements and party bargains, becomes o
matter of trade and dicker among pettifogging
politicians Election of Judges by the people
is bad enough-we have had somewhat
bitter experience of it in this State
but election by the Legislature is
worse. The safest method, as has
been urged heretofore, is to make the judicial
Office ON executive appointment with life
tenure, OF possibly limitation on the score of
age. The Connecticut Senate, however. did
an unusually good thing in defeating the leg
islative appointment of their Judges this year,
and in confirming the precedent of disregard
ing the caucus action. 1t is one of the en-
couraging signs of the times that the Republi-
can party elects men to Office occasionally
who have the good sense and the patriotism
TO rise above the partisanship that is destroy
ing that organization, and assert their
own manhood and independence. SO long
as the engences of our great national
peril demanded a compact well organized and
thoroughly disciplined party acting together
against an organized and dangerous opposi-
ton, there was little opportunity for individ-
ual freedom of action or expression OF opin-
ion. That time has passed, and the present
danger is rather of blind adhesion to the eau
Gus and unquestioning allegiance to party
leaders 1t is good step away from 1t to
throw off the shackles of party and give the
mischief making demagogues who have come
to the front TO understand clearly and
positively that no caucus nomination
nor any party Endorsement will suffice
to put unworthy men in Office or enact
questionable laws. Connecticut has over
turned a Senatorial caucus one year and
Judicial caucus the next. That is good