The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-03-01
A Gard from J. c. Pepper

EDITORS OF THE RECORD GENTLE
MEN:-SOmetime about the Holidays, con-
WINGED by representations and assurances
that ] received from all parts of the Circuit
that it was the desire of the people, and
would be agreeable to the bar of the Tenth
Judicial Circuit, consented that my friends
might use my name as a candidate for
one of the Judges thereof at the ensuing
June election, and | supposed that that
would be sufficient notice to the general
public.
But within the last week or ten DAYS
| am IN receipt of numerous open letters,
petitions add requests from different parts
OF the Circuit, signed by from dozen to
"a hundred and more persons each. The
general tenor and purpOrt of these letters
is embodied in the copy | hereby send you.
These seem 20 require Gn answer, and as
| cannot we'll answer all the siguers by
personal letter, at the risk of being Charg-
ed with electOneeriUg, l take the liberty
OF asking you to publish this card in your
widely circulated paper.
Frankly, then, say to the persons who
prefer these requests, and 10 all the citi-
zens of the Tenth Judicial Circuit, that
''dTespectlUe Of party and regardless of
politics and politicians, you may use my
name as one of the candidates for Judge
10 the said Circuit; AID that these arrange
ments will so be and remain until aud
through the day of election, unless the
same persons who preferred the request
shall withdraw it,
When / say regardless of politics and
politicians | do not mean TO cast any re-
Fiction upon those who think it their right
and duty to hold party conventions nor do
mean to object to the recommendation
endorsement, or nomination of any conven-
ton or body of people that may assemble
iu the circuit. | see no more impropre-
~ in receiving or accepting such endorse
,nGnR Md accommodation than | should
in receiving and accepting the votes of the
persons who may hold or attend such
meetings or conventiOns,o on the day of cleo
ton But what | do mean is, that | must
not be expected to carry any party
flag, wear any party badge, or advocate
or indorse the political tenets of any party
The State Legislature has wisely isola
ted judicial from political elections, and by
putting them in June has separated them,
as far as possible. from the strife of spring
and autumn politics. The courts have uni.
formly held that it is not within their
fANFiuNC " uSOluO pOIAllCaL dDu
the State bar, at its meeting at Springfield.
voted unanimously to ignore party and
partisan politics at the coming election,
and so think it will seem proper to every
right thinking man that Judge should
owe his position to no party, faction or
clique; but should receive it at the hands
OF the whole people. do not want, aud
will not have, the position, unless the bar
Of the Circuit desire Inc to take it; nor
would take it, 'as gracious gift from the
bar, unless it shall be generally satsfac
tory to the people.
Aud, now, whatever may be the result,
l desire to express my warmest thanks for
the kind and generous proposal and words
of trust, confidence. and commentator
that accompany it. The recollection of
these,will quicken the pulse aud warm the
heart In all the years to come.
Respectfully, JOHN G. PEPPER.
Such papers as choose to publish this
card will please except my thanks, in ad-
vance, for so doing -Aledo Record.