, 1873-06-16
THE JUDICIAL ELECTION,

We print An nrtlcl0 from tho Now York Nation
On tho lato judicial election in Illinois, ut tho
close Of which tho inquiry is mato vhothor tho
principles governing tho election Of h1r. Craig
over Judge Lawrence arc to 10 takon, az moroly
temporary alteration, or whother they arc like
ly to bo lilo governing principles Of our judicial
nyssom. Wo do not think tho election can bo
fairly said to have q permanent Significance.
Aside from tho fact that on the same day that
oioctod who had pointodly refused to be cato
chiHod by convontion, n,-elooted to tho sarno
Bench in another district not whit moro intel
ligont and virtuoua tlan Judge Lawronoo's,-
10 think that tho election In tho Fifth District
cannot he regarded aB O tost Of tho real sentt-
mont OF the pooplo concerning the character and
functions of tho judiciary. It is altogether
safpr to regard It "a display Of strength asatnst
an evil imperfect1y understood, than % q settled
purpose to docite caBes In court Mt tho ballot
box. =
The election Of Craig and the dofoat Of
Lawrence WIS a mistake, which, In itH ofoct,
was grent outrage. OF tho character Of TINT
outrage We have already Expressed our opinion
but 1t Is not nt oil likely that ton porsons can DO
found In tho Fifth District who will ayow TINT
they wish tue Judges to decide case in advance
Of hearing tho arguments, or to decide contrary
to law. Tho general impression oreatod through
tho country by tho result Of tho election La not
at all complimentary to the people Of tho dis
trict. It has ahakon public faith in tho integrity
Of the votors and has doubtless affected tho
credit Of the whole State injuriously. Tlat such
would DO tho effcck wo repeatedly pointed out.
But tho election ID oyor, mud tho mistake has
becn mado,-aud 1t ia grievous ono In every
aanso,-noyortlolos NO havo no idea that any
considerable portion Of tho people Of that dis
triot, oven Of those who votol for Craig, de-
ero tint. ho shall vioate his official oath.
It is fully conceded by those who permitted
Craig to 10 elected or voted for him that his
election was in q great measure forced upon
them. 4 popular stand had been taken aganst
monopoly. Tho flag had been raised. It was
for aome timo q question whether Lawronce OF
Craig should carry 1t. A fov skillful managers
adroit1y planned tho achomo Of turning the cur
rent against Lawrence. In Mr. Craig they found
q conHonting instrumont. In tho presentation
Of Craig, as oil opponent Of Lawrence, tho mass
OF the antt-monopolists bud no mooney; bat ho
WAS ostensib1y presented In their name, md it
WAS a1silfully urged that the issue being
made as to tho ability Of the people to
elect candidate Of their own, it would be
disastrous to incur even tho appearance Of
defeat. For this cauao thousands of voters
favorable to Lnwronco remained away from
tho polls and othors voted for Craig. It was
thus that tho mistake was mado,-a mistake
that will cause infinite trouble and expenae to
romedy, md it WAS thus that one Of the best md
purost Judges In tho country was sacrificed, and
thus that tho people Of tho district acquired the
sort Of reputation which tho Nation broadly and
accurately dodues
That this is tho correct explanation Of the
election IN tho Fifth District IL shown BY tho re-
suit In the Second District already alluded to-
Judge scho1tield peremptorily refused to answer
any questions aa to what his opinions were upon
questions likoly to come before tho Court, and
declared ho would rather be defeated taan de-
grade himself to making pledges. Yet ho WAS
elected. Ills Independence and manlinosH cost
him no votes among Intelligent aud upright citi-
IONS, and in that district ne suppose tho voters
aro MS fully prepared to abandon all other purity
associations md so into tho " Farmers Move
mont 81 In the district which oloctel Craig,