The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-07-19
JUDGE EMMEI1.

The Pioneer Press is trying to make
some capital in favor of the Republican
candidate for Chief Justice, whoever he
may be, by charging that in the opposi-
tion convention Hon. Lafayette Emmett
nominated himself for that office. The
editor of the Faribault Democrat, A. E.
Haven, in letter to the Pi-Press, sets
all this right, thus:
In reference to Judge Emmett nominating
himself: If you will refer to the proceedings
OF the convention, as published IN your own
paper, you will learn that he was nominated
before MIR. Castle introdut ed his resolutions en-
dorsing Giltillan, and before Mr.. Emmett had
said one word in the convention. And this Is
not all. He was nominated and the nomination
regularly seconded before MIR. Castle took the
floor. After the resolutions of Mr. Castle. en-
dorsing Judge Gilffilan, had been introduced,
Mr.. Emmett, Mr.. Donnelly, and three or four
other delegates spoke against them. During
his remarks Mr.. DOnnelley referred to the i'm
portant decision of the supreme court, while
Judge Emmett was Chief Justice, in reference
to the rate of interest notes shoul. bear after
maturity, whereby the and per cent per
month were reduced to and per cent per
anlum.
A delegate then called out, SIT is true, Judpe
Emmett did that" and another responded,
"Thatis so; let's nominate him." Some one then
moved the nomination Of Judge Flandrau, and
Judge Emmett then heartily seconded the NOM
ination. and took the occasion to say that he
was not candidate, and would be pleased to
do all in his power for the election of Mr.. Flap-
drau. Mr. Flandrau declined, and NJ. J. Sew
erance, of Mankato, was nominated, and Judge
Emmett seconded this nomination in manner
that left no doubt of his earnest desire to have
some one besides himself become the candi-
date for Chief Justice. Mr.. Castle read a tele-
gram from Mr.. Severance declining to be can
didate, and then there were calls for Emmett,
from all parts of the house. Mr. Lochren l,,ov-
ed .he resolutions introduced by Mr. Castle be
laio upon the table, which motion prevailed,
by vote of more than twenty to one. Mr..
Emmett was then nominated by acclaim ton
with not one dissenting voice, and with more
enthusiasm than characterized any nomination
of the da., with perhaps the single exception
of Durant for Lieutenant Governor.
The facts are that Mr.. Emmett did not nomi-
nate himself-did not ask nomination gave
no evidence OF desire for nomination. but
simply opposed the endorsem mt OF Gilfillan as
nine tenths of the other members of the con-
vention opposed it, and only signified his will
ingness to allow his name to go before the con-
ventiOn upon condition that there was no other
candidate
The trouble with Judge Emmett is,
that if elected, his sympathy will always
be found upon the side of the people.
We would not have Judge do violence
to the law and justice, even to serve the
cause Of the many against the few; bu,
we do not want Judge who, if he leans
either way. will lean towards the op-
pressors OF the people. There are many
fine determinations to be made in the
Interpretation of the law, where the
puzzled judgment can take counsel ol
heart, and we want man whose hear
is right as well as his head The man
whose heart is not with the people in
their struggle for the defense of their
rights is unfit to hold any Office in the
gift of the voters. Too often the people
have been like Byron's eagle:
$50 the struck eagle stretched upon the plain
Never mid rolling clouds to soar again,
Views its own feather in the fatal dart,
II winged the shaft that auivers in its heart
With Judge Emmett on the bench the
people could expect justice. That is
why the rings are now so bitterly de-
nouncing him.