Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-29

THE ACOVITI1L OF JUDGE PAGE.
The failure of the Senate, sitting as high
court of impeachment, to convict Judge
Sherman Page, sends him forth to resume
his position on the bench, a free man. The
GLOBE has abstained from discussing this
question pending the impeachment proceed
ings, but aimed to give unbiased reports of
the trial, leaving the verdict to be
made up without $50 far as it was concerned)
prejudice. Though others have chosen to
overstep the bounds of honorable journal
ism, the GLOBE has preferred to leave the
decision to the proper tribunal without in
reference.
The impeachment trial, which closed last
night, was in progress for six weeks. The
result which finally reached fore
seen by close observers before the court had
been in session week. There may have
been gains since that time upon Judge
Pages side, but if the vote had been taken
much earlier in the proceedings the requi-
to say ''guilty." Judge Page was ably de-
Tended and no effort was relaxed to advance
his cause, and while his counsel are entitled
to great credit, believe there is too
much solid sense in the Senate to
have convicted him, even if there had been
less ability in his defense.
The whole affair has been, from the be-
ginning, tempest in a tea pot. A narrow
roin1o1 1ooo1 cr,uoh11o nh ;c~ ~
in villages and minor cities. Gov. Davis
aptly described Judge Page as an angular
man." He wears corners all over him, and
it is not possible, perhaps, to have much to
of the corners. That he has been arbitrary
on the bench is beyond question,
but his offence did not war
rant conviction by impeachment.
He has descended into petty five dollar
squabbles with relish that lowers his judi
cial position and should be beneath any
judge upon the bench. The community
where he resides has gradually taken sides
for and against, until the entire city of
Austin is divided into Page and anti-Page
factions. An unprincipled, indecent and
newspaper at St. Paul has aided
in stirring up strife and keeping up the fires
of animosity. And thus squabble which
never ought to have existed, or if
it did exist, never ought to have
gone beyond the corporate limits of Austin,
was forced upon the State and an expense
incurro1 o7,firo1u Observation-Disclosures IN +l,o o,5
sought for, even if it had been attained.
We confess to having little sympathy with
the men who placed Sherman Page upon the
bench. His original election was fragrant
of the constitution and known to
be such, he having been a member of the
Senate which created his present judicial
district. In placing him upon the bench in
violation of law they made their bed and they
should not object to lying it.
The decision of the Senate is one which
will meet with a very general approval.
Not from any feeling of love admiration
for Page but from the belief that his part in
the petty local rumpus, while, perhaps, dis
reputable and degrading to his position, was
not sufficient to warrant his expulsion from
office and disqualification for the future.
Judge Page has two years more to serve
and as the State has invested twenty-five or
thirty thousand dollars in rubbing down his
corners, it is to be hoped that the deputy
sheriffs, constables and other excitable
people who may come in contact with his
court will be able to possess their souls in
patience until--he is reelected.