The interior journal., 1874-07-10
DISTRICT'POLlTICS.
fspvERrIsNNrSr

u fisb'N SililfNss
I am candidate for the Office Of Cir
cult Court Judge OF this District.
Politically. I am upon principle. as
well as by afIiliation, a Republican. Yet,
in this contest, I am not the candidate
of any party, clique, caucus or ccnven-
tion.
lam an independent and non-partisan
candidate from what I deem just sense
of the eternal fitness Of things.
The Office Of Judge has no legitimate
connection with politics, and baneful
results attend every contact between
them. The Judge who takes politics
with him upon the bench. aud the peo-
pie who elect him, for political or party
reasons, alike deserve execration.
Even the discussion Of party politics
in a canvass for the Office u Judge,
seems to me not only in bad taste, but
extremely liable to result in evil. IL
gives undue prominence and Importance
to the political opinions of the candi-
dates, needlessly arouses the passions and
prcjudices Of the people and leads their
minds away from the real merits Of the
canvass. The country can have no as
.urance Of good Judges so long as such
is the case.
But a still greater source Of evil is the
nomination or selection, by party action,
Of candidates for the office of Judge,
aud the blind support of the nominees
by the party, regardless Of all other con-
slderatons. Under such an order Of
things mere party strength may often
determine the question whether the coun-
try is to have a COED or bad Judge.
Such ought not to be the case.
But much worse features Of this mis-
applied partyism are to be found inside
If the respective parties. A majority of
those who would most worthily fll the
office of Judge, decline all pretension to
it because their self respect and sense Of
propriety will not allow them to resort
to the means generally adopted to secure
party nomination. But no matter how
zealously the claims Of such men may
be urge,l, they stand but poor chance
for party nomination. They are not
gene rally considered available, and avail.
ability is the one all-sufiicient desidera-
ium with party in the selection of a
candidate. Fitness for office seems never
10 be considered at all, even as an ele-
ment or ingredient Of availability Men
well skilled in the art Of courtiug poPu-
lar favor. apt and experienced in party
irickery, and troubled by but few con-
scieniious scruples, are generally the
choice of their party for the candidacy.
no matter how many there may he in
the party infinitely more fit for the office
than they. But even if not the choice
of the party such men can always find
means To secure nomination, even against
the will and wishes of majority Of the
party. Aud having secured the nomi-
nation of the party, no matter by what
unfair or improper means, none are more
blatant than they upon party ethics,
particularly that branch relating to the
high moral q obligation of the party,
to support the nominee. The country is
reasonably certain to have indifferent
Judges so long as such Is the case.
The Office Of Judge is one in which
every person, of whatever station in life,
has deep and immediate interest, and a
very grave responsibility rests upon
those who are entrusted by the Constitu-
ton with the selection Of person To fill
that high and importan. position. The
good or i'll effects Of their choice, he it
observed, will not end with the term of
the person cho,en, but will lie felt for
generations to Gomez How important.
then, that every voter should inform
himself of the rue merits of the i,sue
his vote l. intended to decide. that he
may vote intellisently, and then divest
his mind Of all irrelevant and improper
considerations, that he may vote honest
". When man does that, in good
faith, he has the appreciation OF his own
conscience. and is entitled to the respect
Of his iellow citizens, no matter how
n.uoh Le may err in judgment. But one
who deliberately shuts his eyes to what
he knows to be the true test OF his duty,
or who exercises the high functions Of
sovereignty contrary to his convictions
Of right, merely To gratify partisan,
personal or other imprnper feeling, is ut.
torly unworthy of the privileges Of a
freeman.
And this leads me to brief consider.
alion of that modern monstrosity known
as the primary election system, scheme
deliberately designed to obliierate in
dividuality, annihilale Independence,
smother conscience, and forestall M hon
est and intelligent expression of the will
of the people at the polls. 1t is odious
in every respect. 1t often happens that
the selection Of candidate by primary