The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-02-09
A PLEA ron THE sunGEs.
Let Not the rHblic Judge Rashiy ef
Them Beforehand.
taath in Cincinnati En nqnirsr. J

|
On Bradley will rest, Ia u great de-
gree, the decision OF the Presidency.
Yet 1t is not altogether certain that
some other Justices may not take as in
dependent position as we expected OF
Judge Davis had he consented to re-
main here ] am told that Justice
Strong, Of Pennsylvania, Is an untrain-
able man in affairs OF politics. He be-
longs to that strong Connecticut type
which has given Missouri q Democl atie
| Governor Ia Phelps, Pennsylvania q
Judge like Woodward, and Maryland
another Judge on the Court of Appeals.
Miller. Connecticut men are very
different In complexion from those Of
Massachusetts. Connecticut Federal
lists never thought much Of Massachu-
setts Federalsts. Oliver Wolcotb and
his type OF offlce-holders IN the early
administrations abandoned John
Adams and took to Hamilton.
| Connecticut has been % Democratic
State for much OF its history,
and even Republicans like Gideon
Senator Ferry were individual people
who took their own course and stub
bornly held 1t. Judge Strong, as Gov
ernor Curtin said to me only yesterday,
shifted his politics according to his con
science without consulting any other
person. He was elected to Congress
Democrat and TO the Supreme Bench OF
Pennsylvania as q Democrat. He sat
beside J udge Woodward of Wilkesbarre,
and when Woodward ran for Governor
| in 1868. he supposed that Strong. as u
Democrat, would lend him moral inHu-
enee. Strong did not hint nor speak.
and one day Judge Woodward, in u
state OF excitement, walked up to him
and demanded TO know whether Strong
meant to give him his vote. Strong an
swered, II dill not care, Judge Wood
ward, to make any expression OF my
opinion to you or anybody, but since
you have asked it, I shall not vote for
you. just at this time you ought not to
be elected, with your opinions"
Strong also voted for Lincoln In 1864.
Since that time he has had no fixed po-
litical status. He has the handsomest
face on the bench, thoroughly judicial.
o noble forehead, with luxuriant gray
locks down the temples, and In social
life he Is intelligent without prejudices.
He is the head of the move ment to put
God In the constitution. His daughter
some time ago married Mr.. Flanagan,
OF Philadelphia. a shipping merchant.
who was q large owner OF the tow boats
between New Orleans and the mouth of
the Mississippi. Strong has been
twice married. He was put on
the bench at the same time with
Bradley, and, people said. for the rea-
son that he opposed the repeal OF the
Legal Tender bill. But II such was the
case it was not The fruit Of any bargain,
and only because his opinions on the
subject were wsll known. The people
OF Pennsylvania, without regard to
party, ncquiesoed in the appointment,
and the State never had man on the
local or national bench who took bet
ter standing with the bar and the
people.
The press and politicians ought TO
give u chance to the bench when 1t is
unwillingly summoned to do such work
as the present. These Judges did not
ask TO be made arbiters in a disputed
election. The boldest Of them-men
like Davis and Wate-aslted to be ex.
cused. They get neither additional
compensation nor more reputation fol
} their work. They care very little about
either Hayes or Tilden. As most ol
them were men of consideration before
they went upon the bench, they have
J OF course, II large acquaintance with
ruling politicians. Chief Justice Waite
for example. did railroad business fol
corporations where Mr. Iilden WAS an
owner and counsel. | have heard II
said, on what / think good authority
that Waite was mindful OF those former
relations. and asked that tho bill be
framed SO us to name only Associate
Justices, and thereby leave out the
Chief Justice.