The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-07-07
Ghe 9ailg Argns,
ROCK ISLAND. .xnzrno1s
CONCLUDED from second mace.

tConcluded from second page !.
is required to make his decisions. IF it
were proposed to the people to elect to the
office of states attorney, merchant.
mechanic, teacher, preacher, or farmer. or
person of any other business or profession
than that of lawyer, the universal verdict
would be mot qualified" Yet it is an
easier task. and requires less learning, TO
prosecute one side Of a case than to sit in
judgment upon and administer the law
Tor both sides. Ii it were proposed to put
a physician to mending a watch, watch
maker TO setting broken leg, farmer to
making steam engine. or preacher to
running locomotive, the absnrdity and
danger would be manifest to every one.
Then Why should the one or the other Of
these be supposed to be able 10 more
successfully dispose of the more Intricate
matters of the law. or more skillfully
handle the equally dangerous machinery
Of court?
1t is true that, to be Judge, requires
other qualifications than simply extensive
legal learning He should be man of
cool temper, firm decision and impartial
Judgment, and whose integrity is above
suspicion. He should not owe his position
political party. lie should be chosen by
the people, independent of each and every
such influence. The fact is beyond dis
pute that, IN this country, our ultimate
hope in the preservation of all that is worth
preserving rests finally in an incorrupt
and incorruptible judiciary. There is moth,
ing to stand between, JUS and certain chaos.
but firm unbiased and honest administra
ton Of the law. We believe that the same
considerations which have hitherto led the
people, generally, to ignore party consider
ations in the selection of the Judges of our
Circuit Courts, should now lead them to
disregard party considerations in the seleo
ton of County Judge; that he should be
selected solely in consideration of his fit
ness to administer the duties of that court,
under its increased jurisdiction. Lawyers,
actuated solely by desire to give them
selves importance by the increase of litiga-
ton, would not agree with our conclusions,
but those who, in good faith, desire to ia
cilitate the actual disposition of business,
and desire that justice should be done in
every case, We think, can scarcely fail to
agree with US in these conclusions. We
make them in the interest of the body of
the people, who 10 the language of the oonsti-
tuition OF the State, desire the right to oh
tam by law right and Justice, freely and
without being obliged to purchase 1t, COM
pietely and without denial, promptly and
without delay"
We think that this can only be accom-
pllshed by the selection of some competent
lawyer to ell the position of County Judge.
but We entirely disclaim any right to die
tate to the people the person TO be selected
and all of us will gladly support any man,
whatever may be his party ahinities. Of
such experience and education as will ena-
bic him to discharge the duties of that DO
sltion independently, intelligently, andswith
reasonable facility.
The members of the bar have this apo !
logy to make For offering this statement, if
II need any; that they do it as citizens hav-
ing deep but common interest in the
subject with every other citizen, believing
that their close relation to the court ena-
bles them to speak intelligeutly and makes
It their duty to speak. Their only pur-
pose is to ask for what the people may, and
have the right to, grant or refuse after a
candid consideration of the subject, And,
hoping that this statement may be thus
considered, we respectfully submit the
whole matter to the voters of Rock island
county,
on moGn1 adjourned.
CHAs. W. O'NElL, Secretary.