The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-12-16
DALLAS, TEXAS.
.TnE APPOINTMENT or JUDaEs,

Ing allh W cOnhlueIeH hplrly W. ihpit
matter OF business, This being the
ease, lot IN consider tho best means Of
acquiring pure, able aud unllnpeaehable
men for the bench, not IN u matter Of
principle, for nothing II done now
adays upon principle, hut upon policy
10 preserve the Integrity OF the
bench several things are requisite
Great personal purity Of character
superior legal attachments aud the
highest order Of Judgment The Judge
IL tho human administrator OF the
divine law Of justice, ie IL amenable
10 his dod IN we'll ~ to his conscience
and hla country, In order, therefore,
10 secure the elements necessary for u
iair and exact administration Of the
law, the character aud dignity OF posi-
ton OF a Judge must be made inylola'
Bile. II must be protected from temp
tailon, intimidation, bribery or cor
ruption, political or otherwise, The
first step 10 DO taken 10 put the bench
upon the high ground II should accupy
10 either 10 lengthon the torn OF SER
Vice or make II during life, or good be-
haylor, aud TO pay such salaries M VIII
Justify men Of standing aud ability NJ
the bar In accepting seat on the
bench. Az II now stands, the bench
In too often the refuge OF demagogues
and politicians, who could have never
achieved either fame or fortune NJ the
bar and have wlre-pulled themselves
through mere Influence" Into posi-
lions they are often incapable OF I'LL
Ing.
The member OF the bar who stands
at the head OF II In the state, or dis
trlct, cannot afford 10 give up the
emoluments OF lucrative practice for
the temporary honors Of judgeship,
with n pittance for n salary not equal
TO the yearly fees Of some mere tyro.
Hence the bench has often TO look to
mediocrity for recruits. The effect Of
this IL, that ordinary men demean the
position. They have neither the
knowledge, capacity nor that high per-
sonal uprightness of character and In
iluence ~ command respect and en-
force attention. They are considered
"clever fellows' and tolerably nir
lawyers, but M TO uniting my of the
qualities which go TO make up able
and impartial judges, they do not.
This IL one reason why the ermine is
not respected rs II 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 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
appointment.
Whenever the bench is made mat
ter Of politics!it 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
that are dark" now matter of GUS
tom In securing n nomination or car
rying an election. The mounting
demagogue will go among the people,
and by his plausible sophistry, I'M
blushing ilattery and liberal promises,
beguile them of their votes, or by the
use Of money "placed where it will
do the most good" carry the election.
The people mean right, but in the
hands of the moneyed, INSCRIPTIONS
professional politician, who will take
judgeship or collectorship according
to the salary, they are las lambs led
to the slaughter" They will suffer
themselves to be seduced into voting
for popular" man regardless of his
personal character or legal abilities
In the choice of judge they should
have a voice. The only question
Is whether it should be directly at the
polls, or indirectly through the action
of their chosen representatives.
The HERALD is inclined to the opin.
ion that the purity and ability of the
bench can be best secured by the nomi-
nation of the district judges upon the
recommendation of the respective dis
trict bars and the confirmation by the
senate. The appointmentof the judges
OF the supreme court should be made
by the governor, subject to the CON
firmation of both houses Of the legisla.
ture, the people holding their repre-.
sentatives and executive responsible at
the ballot box.
Select the honest and ablest man as
governor, and the best men for the
legislature, and the interests of the
state, the welfare and rights of the
people will be safer than fjudges are
elected, and every few years there is
an indecent scramble for positions on
the bench, either through a farcical,
corrupted convention, or the smooth
tongued platitudes Of professional poll
ticians who organize elections TO win,
and with whom humbugging the people
Is a science, all, too, In the most pa
triotic and disinterested way.
THE sHERIFFs' CONyENTIoN.
On the 18th instant the sherifls of n