The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-10-18
"NOt a Good Selection"

Dor of the Oregoaian has seen fit to
place over an associated press dis
patch from Washington, which an
nounces that General Harlan, of Ken
lucky, will probably be appointed to
the vacancy on the supreme bench.
In venturing the opinion that the APP
pointment of Hon. John NJ. Harlan is
"not good selection" the Oregonian
is probably following the advice once
given by the Eat Contributor" to
editors; and which was this: eff
you don't understand the subject, the
best way to do is just to pitch in and
discuss it as naturally as though you
know all about it, and most of your
readers will be satisfied" If the Ore
CONAN would only spare a moment,
now and then, from its frantic abuse
of Senator Mitchell, to inquire into
general politics, it would not so often
be driven to the dire necessity of SO
far presuming upon the stupidity of
its readers as to hazard opinions where
it is ignorant of facts.
The recklessness with which it
sometimes handles the photography
of prominent proper names, the mis-
takes it so often makes in geography,
and the plumbers it so frequently
commits in reference to many of the
common and we'll established facts of
our political history, cannot, in every
instance, be regarded as merely
Typographical errors"
No doubt, the man who wrote ''not
a good selection" in the case OF John
NJ. Harlan, of kentucky-thought he
was giving finishing touch to the
career Of that already defunct chris
tian statesman, James Harlan, of
Iowa. Only short time since the
Oregonian referred to the wcll-known
Kentucky lawyer and orator, as Gen.
Harlan, of Iowa"
The truth of the matter is, John NJ.
Harlan stands at the head of his pro-
fession as lawyer; and is a gentle
man of unimpeachable public record,
and sterling private character. He
is regarded as the most accomplished
orator of Kentucky since the days of
Henry Clay; and has for years been
the acknowledged leader Of the re-
pubhcans of his state. In his first
campaign as the republican candidate
for Governor of kentucky, he reduced
the democratic majority about sixty
two thousand, aud came very near an
election in what was then the strong
est democratic state in the Union.
Chiefly through his efforts in '6S, the
usual Democratic majority of about
ninety thousand was reduced to less
than eight taousaaA The testimony
of all who know him well, without
regard to party. is strangely at vari-
ance with the gratuitous suggestion
of the Oreyonian that the selection is
'1not good" one. We trust the ru-
NOR OF his appointment is true. The
country will, indeed, be fortunate in
having the vacancy upon the supreme
bench filed by man of such rare
purity and ability as Hon. John NJ.
Harlan, of Louisville, Kentucky.
Evidently the President knows rather
more about the matter than the Ore
gonian-
Since the above was written the NOM
nation of General Harlan has been
sent to the Senate, where it will prob
ably be confirmed, notwithstanding the
sensational dispatch sent out from
Washington, accusing him of treachery
to Bristow.
Some of the cool people of Topeka
have been getting after Rev. c. Mon
ia An N .Sfor or the ,ntist church there