The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1874-12-19

We live in corrupt ana material
age. The question uppermost in mems
minds always il, "Will it pay ~
Everything is put on business foot
ing and is considered solely rs a mere
matter of business. This being the
ease, let us consider the best means of
sccuring pure, able andunimpeachable
men Tor the bench, not as n matter of
principle, for nothing is done. now
adays upon principle, but upon policy.
10 preserve the integrity Of the
bench several things are requisite.
Great personal purity of character,
superior legal attachments and the
highest order of Judgment. The judge
is the human administrator of the
divine law of justice. He is amenable
to his God as well as to his conscience
aud his country. In order, therefore,
to secure the elements necessary for a
lair and exact administration of the
law, the character and dignity of posi-
ton of Judge must be made inviola-
bic. 1t must be protected from temp
tation, intimidation, bribery or cor
ruption, political or otherwise. The
first step to be taken to put the bench
upon the high ground it should accupy
is either TO lengthen the term of SER
vice or make it during life, or good be-
havior, and to pay such salaries as will
justify men of standing and ability at
the bar in accepting q seat Oh the
bench. AS it now stands, the bench
is too often the refuge of demagogucs
and politicians, who could have never
achieved either fame or fortune at the
bar, and have wire-pulled themselves
through mere "influence," into posi-
tons they are often incapable of fill
ing.
The member of the bar who stands
at the head of it in the state, or dis
trict, cannot afford to give up the
emoluments of n lucrative practice for
the temporary -honors of Il judgeship,
with pittance for salary not equal
to the yearly fees of some mere tyro.
Hence the bench has often to look to
mpdi ocrity for recruits. The effect of
this is, that ordinary men demean the
position. They have neither the
knowledge, capacity nor that high per-
sonal upri yhtness of character and in
fluence to command respect and en-
force attention. They are considered
'"clever fellows" and tolerably fair
lawyers, but as to uniting any of the
qualities which go to make up able
aud impartial judges, they do not.
This is one reason why the ermine is |
not respected as it should be, and the
majesty of the law felt and obeyed.
The people cannot fail to recognize
the fact that the only protection to life
and property is in a proper construc-
ton and administration of the law.
The question with them is, how can
they best secure the services of the
best men, whether by election or
Whenever the bench is made a mat
ter of polticssit is too apt to degener-
ate into one of mere popularity, and
the spirit of demagoguery is aroused.
a man of the highest character, the
most profound legal culture and the
ablest intellect will hardly descend to ,
the level of the political trickster. He
Is as innocent as child of "the ways
tnat are dark" now a matter of Gus
tom in securing-a nomination or car
rying an election. The mounting
will go among the people,
and by his plausible sophisfry, un--
blushing flattery and liberal promises,
beguile them of their votes, or by the
Use of money "placed where it will
10 the most good" carry the election.
The people mean right, but in the
lands of the noneyed, INSCRIPTIONS
politician, who will take u
or a dictatorship according
o the salary, they are "as lambs led
o the slaughter" They will suffer
themselves to be seduced into voting
or popular" man regardless of his
PERSONAL character or legal abilities.
n the choice of judge they should |
AVE a voice. The only question /
J whether it shoald be directly at the L
oils, or indirectly through the action I
( their chosen representatives. .
The HERALD is iacline1 to the opin- Il
IN that the purity aud ability of the
ench can be best secured by the nOmi-
alton of the district judges upon the a
commentator Of the respective dis il
let bars and the confirmation by the a
nate. The appointmentof the judges Il
the supreme court should be made Is
! the governor, subject to the con- Ia
-mation of both houses of the legisla- pl