The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-04-01
THE INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE.

II it were possible to remove the
Judiciary entirely from the influence of
politics none would work with greater
earnestness for the attainment of that
end than the PMoT. But through what
means can it be donel United States
judges are appointed and hold Office dur
ing good behavior, but they are invariably
selected with reference to their political
views. The judges of the Supreme court
OF this state are politically in accord with
that party in the ascendant at the time
of their election. Taylor and Orion even
are not exceptions but go to prove the
rule, as at the time of their election the
assembly was democratic and the senate
republican. Here each party stepped
forward and demanded q representative
on the bench. When Judge Mclean
defeated Judge Taylor, man his super
Tor in learning, dignity and force of char
acter, it was through the working of
party. It was because Judge Mclean
was democrat and ran in a circuit every
county of which gave a democratic ma
iority, and not because of his pre-eminent
fitness nor because of the reluctance OF
the republicans to drag the Office into
the mire of politics, that he was re-
elected without opposition in 1874.
Had Judge Mclean felt at all times
that party nomination was but a poor
| recommendation for 4 candidate for the
judgeship, had he not been defeated
applicant for the very nomination he now
| affects to contemn, his present course
would be entitled to some respect. As 1t
is he is made the tool of republicans to
iniure the party at whose hands he has
received many favors. How supremely
ridiculous is bis position and that Of the
republican party! They pronounce
against partisan nomination, at a con-
vention called ''for the purpose of nom
| mating a candidate" for the Fourth in IL
cial circuit. Every assembly district in
the circuit responds to the call. The call
for what? ITO take high moral ground u
and denOunce partisan nominations? By
no means. The announcement of the
| convention states that sit is for the pur-
pose of nominating candidate for Judge
of said circuit" 1t was understood that
straight party nomination would be
useless, and that Mclean would be an
independent" candidate ifno nomination
was made. 1t was not believed that Nc.
| Lean could be elected. If he could be,
it would be claimed as a republican vic.
tory and the prestige would be decided
advantage next fall. His running would
cause dissensions in the party which
kept him in the Office IL years. His
itching for office was stronger than his
sense of honor and he threw himself into
the arms of men who only love him while
they can use him.
Mark the consistency of this party
which plumes itself on its record in mat
tiers appertaining to the judiciary. The
! democracy is denounced for making G
party nomination and those purists who
! applaud themselves for their virtue,
tacitly adopt the candidacy of man who
| sought the party nomination which an
| other secured, and which caused such an
| outburst Of virtnons Indignation. What
means did Col. Gibson employ that were
| beneath Mclean Is Col ellison to be
denounced and Judge Mclean applauded
because a convention of Intelligent men
! considered the former a filter man fol
! Judge than his defeated competitor Re.
publicans may rest assured that it was
not Judge McLean's fault that he was
not nominated. Suppose he was, would the
conditions which make a partisan nom
ination be changed2 BY making him G
candidate do not the republicans stultify
themselves2
The republican convention failed tc
make a nomination because it was
thought impolitic to put up candidate
Their assumption of political virtue an6
protestations of good intentions are strik
lngly at variance with their course o.
procedure III supporting a democrat who
feels aggrieved because his own party
did not nominate him,