The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-03-22
THE COUNTY JUDGESHIP.
Suggestions Of an Observer"

suggestions for the consideration of the
delegates composing such conventions.
GENTLEMEN The Office Of County
Judge is OF vastly more Importance than
that of Circuit Judge. for the reason
that the title to all the real estate in the
county must come within the jurisdiction
OF the county court once in every gen.
Grafton, and if the adjudications of that
court are legal and Just the rights of all
persons Interested will remain quiet and
secure but if they are Illegal and IN
just. the result will be litigation of the
most bitter and implacable nature, and,
in many cases, the absorption of entire
estates IN costs and fees.
Many Of The counties in this state,
especially the older ones, are securing
the best legal talent therein for the Office
of County Judge. Take Sheboygan
county fer instance ; where four years
ago, one of its ablest and most promi-
nent lawyers was elevated to that Office,
and the result has been so satisfactory
that his reelection is reported to be
beyond peradventure. Will Manitowoc
county, whose interests require an equally
competent officer, act less wisely?
And now a word rs to the manipuia-
tons heretofore practiced in our county
conventions, and as to the rights, duties
and obligations of delegates, when
assembled therein:
GENTLEMEN 1t is a notorious and
undeniable fact, that heretofore, dele
gates to our county conventions have
been tempered with in various ways,
reduced to chattles, put up at auction,
as it were, and sold like swine or mules
to the highest bidder. 1t is bad enough
for an aspirant to Office to seek your
support by verbal solicitation alone, and
even that would some times Justify you
in Withholding that support from him
the only true and safe rule being, that
the Office should seek the man, not the
man the Office.
money, or the promise of favors or
reward, Or calls you into a saloon to
drink, or undertakes to reach you by
any other similar appliance, with the
evident intention of thereby securing
your votes, you should shun him as you
would the plague or small pox, and
thrust him from you as you would the
midnight robber. For the man who is
So base, unprincipled and corrupt as to
secure an Office by bribery CT any such
kindred means, is bound to get back the
money so expended, in some way, even
if he has to steal Tor it, and if he be
county judge, how can he reimburse
himself except by robbing the widows
and orphans whose estates are subject
to his mercy ? What would you think
of supposed friend, who by the pay
ment or promise of money Or other
reward, should induce one Of your chill
dren to burn your neighbor's house,
kill his cattle, or do any other serious
injury to his person or property? You
would brand him at once with infamy,
and forever regard him with that utter
contempt and scorn so Justly due to his
vile, wicked and depraYed nature and
practices. In case of that kind, the
evil effects are limited to a few individ-
uals but when q man by such vile
means obtains apublicoffice, the ten
dency is to corrupt and debase the body
politic-every member of his constituency
and thus to sap the very foundations
upon which our liberties are based
This deplorable, danapa5le practice Of
procuring Office by bribery, fraud and
corruption, is the hidden rock upon
which this great republic, this grand
and glorious heritage bequeathed us by
the fathers--the wisest, purest and best
men the world has ever known-is des-
tined to strike, crumble and fall, unless
the people arise in their might, arouse
slnmbering virtues, buckle on the armor
Of truth, justice and right, huri back
and destroy the invading foe, and restore
the government to that purity, honesty
and benefcence upon which it was
established, and which its founders in
tended and hoped should be transmitted
unimpaired to all succeeding genera
tions.
1t is not alleged that any of the aspir-
ants to the Office of County Judge, whose
names may come before the conventions,
will resort to any Of the practices or
appliances herein referred to, and it is
sincerely to be hoped they viii not.
But, should they attempt it, then
gentlemen delegates, remember that the
masses of the people-the neighbors and
friends whom you Representative honest
and well meaning in their general
motives and purposes, and desire that
their public seryants-the men elevated
by them to official stations shall be
pure, high minded, competent and
honest, and true to the trust and conf
denee reposed in, and to the duties and
responsibilities resting upon them.-
And if anyaspirant to the office of County
Judge seeks TO secure a nomination at
your hands through bribery or corrup-
ton of any kind, rise to the dignity of
the situation, assert your rights, indie
pendence and manhood, remember the
duty you owe to yourselves, to your
fellow citizens and your country, and
spurn him with that scorn and contempt
which bis baseness deserves, and save