Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-11-18
The Press and ,he Judiciary.


The decision of the Supreme Court
OF Iowa in the case of Isaac Brandt,
charged with embezzlement, called
forth from the press Of the State crit
icisms which seem 10 touch the pride
Of Judge Cole, who happens to be q
member of the Supreme Court and
also editor Of the HCsteJW J,ariSt at
Des Moines. In late number Of
that periodical Judge Cole, stung by
these criticisms, has an article very
bitter against the partizan editors in
which he speaks Of 81 the desire re-
Gently manifested by the editors Of
newspapers, to either administer
criminal justice themselves, or 10
control the courts in its administra-
ton or, falling in these, to destroy
the respect due 10 courts, aHd thereby.
defeat the object Of their organiza-
ton"
IL is not true that the press has
manifested any such desire. The
editors have only reflected public
sentiment by properly condemning
what was universally felt To be hn
outrageous decision by which an
acknowledged official embezzIer was
acquitted after having been convicted
by AN honest jury and declared
guilty. Judge Cote proceeds to say
that the partizan editors are unfit 10
administer criminal justice because
they are not welI-read lawyears, and
Their untitness is greatly infen-
sified by their daily habits, and what
has come to be regarded, in prHctire
st least, rs an essential characteristic
for successful partisan editors, to-Wit:
devotion to aud laudation OF their
partisan or factiOnal friends, regard
less of their merit or drmerit, and
reciprOcAI hatred aud bitterness in
denunciatiOn toward opponents. Ia
other words, their utter disregard Of
justic,. alike to friend ard fJc--to
the former giving more than is just
or due, and from the latter with
holding that which they know To be
jtist and right; or to change the
smile. they only and always stlive
10 reach the desired goal, regardless
of the means and without references
t0 Justice; the end ~ he attained IL
ever uppermost, while the mems
adopted are thOse atfording the great
est supposed utility regardless Of
truth or justice, In securing the
crowning glory Of political contests,
success. If men whose daily avGca-
tiDns thus call them to ignore every
demand for personal justice, should
be esteemed a. At sll qualified for the
administration of criminal Justice, or
for exerting influence upon the
courts therein, 1t would be strange
indeed
In the above paragraph the wise
Judge, proves, If he proves anything,
unlitness Of lawers az well AZ editora.
Have not these same habits of laud-
ing the client and denouncing the
opponent, "regsrdless of their merit
or demerit,n also "come to be regard
ed, in practice at lesst," essential
characteristics Of the successful Law
yer? Success Is the crcwning glory
Of the lawyers contest ~ well "a
Of the editor in politics. IL the edit
or more regardless of truth and JUS
tice. or less scrupnIons as to meaas
than il the attorney? Are the
5udgenent and honesty Of the editor
more likely 10 be distorted by MS
daily habits than are those OF the
attorney?
Judge Cole has done himself no
credit by laying aside his dignity
and ermine to make this hitter indis-
criminate attack upon tho press of
Iowa.