Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-05-29
zancaster fntelIigenrer.
SATURDAY EVENING. MAY %, 1890.
A Famous Judgment.


The good people Of our town seem dis
posed to open their eyes in astonishment
at the David who came to judgment upon
the mayors commitment for thirty days
of the distinguished United States otl-
GERS appointed to take the census in the
Third and Seventh wards. We conceive
that there is no good cause for this aston
ishment and we are somewhat mortlhed
that it should be expressed. And this
for strong reasons. Our people have heard
so much lately about the necessity, in
well-ortlered society, of proper rever-
ence for the judiciary that they ought
to he ready, if they have duly profited
by their teaching, to cry amen at once
to Judge Patterson's decisi' n that the
men he pronounces unquestionably guilty
should be released from punishment.
They should be moved to this assent by
the like feeling of humanity and
knowledge of what is due to an
officer of the United States that led
Judge Patterson to his judgment.
Since We have had occasion to regard
this judge with particular attention, by
reason of a certain misunderstanding
that lately arose between us, we fancy
that We are learning to understand his
somewhat remarkable character. We
invite our fellow citizens to follow us in
our study. They will find entertainment
and profit in it. 4 judge who decides
that the case against the accused is fully
made out and there is no palliatiOn for
their offense. and who follows up that
conclusion by reducing their imprison-
ment from thirty to three days, is mani
feStly Judge to be regarded with inter-
est and to be studied with care. We
don't come across that kind of mind
every day, but that is not saying that it is
not a valuable kind. Exercising that in
finite charity which the Lord teaches
and that profound reverence for judges
which Sam Reynolds preaches-but no
tably fails to practice and don't seem to
get disbarred for it, either-we have been
induced to search for and find the very
sound and creditable reasons which have
served as the foundation for the judg-
ment which our giddy fellow citizens
seem to he so strongly tempted to hOot
at to-day. There is nothing like trying
as we have all been taught, to bring sue
cess. If at first you don't succeed, try,
try again; - and if anybody thinks he
can improve on our suggestion of the
logic of the Pattersonian judgment,
"guilty, but let them go" we should
like to hear him mention it.
As we have intimated, we find one
rock on which this judgment rests in the
beautiful command of the Bible, which
our judge is known to study hard and to
obey in the severest style: Let him
that is without sin cast the first stone.
The Judge knows how it is himself. He
used to he a politician before he became
ajudge and many were the fierce wrestles
he had with himself to preserve the true
Presbyterian dcmeanor in the face of 20.
litical eXigencieS such as those which
faced these poor worldly United States
enumeratOrs, who had on their hands
the job of counting in their candidate at
all hazards, while they were at the same
time oppressed with the necessity of air.
ing the beautiful behavior appropriate to
the United States official. to say nothing
Of that which is supposed to be becoming
In the common law-abihiny citizen. Now
the judge, having taken in his Presby.
terianism with his mothers milk, was
fortified 10y life Of stern self-control
against arrest in political brawl
for drunken and disorderly conduct {:
but then these poor devils had only been
United States officers for a day or two
aid as law-ahiding citizens they had
WIS asking too much of them to expect
that they would be able to SO success
fully arrange the exigencies of their duty
to count in Eberly and of their duty to
their new dignity as to keep from getting
into Jail. We declare that the feeling of
sympathy which our worthy judge had
for them in their misfortune was very
natural and almost accounts of itself f I
their release. The tender heart of the
Judge is very sweet to contemplate
And his good sense came to support
his hearts impulse. We fear that his
sympathy alone would not have suficed
to move him to this famous Judgment
For he can be very severe when it is his
duty. He was very severe with us, you
know. That was Just because it was
his duty. He used to love us, too; but
when his love for us was put in the
balance against the great duty imposed
upon him to maintain the dignity of the
bench and the cause of the people, -
the love kicked the beam, and in big
hurry too. The judges, as their coun-
sci declare in the answer they have
filed in our appeal to the supreme
court, maintain that it is not the offence
to them that they resent, but that offer
ed to the majesty of the people repre-
sented in the persons of the judges. 1t is
a very lofty pedestal to get upon; but it
only shows what our judges can do when
they let loose their vaulting inaginations.
Its the dear people that Judge Patter-
son always has in his mind. He knows
what is best for them. He won't let
them have any music of profane sound
from the Presbyterian organ; and he
1ok< hos