Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-05-31
A Gross Outrage.

A Gross Outrage.
Supervisor Snowden tries to improve on
Judge Patterson's mode of getting
United States enumerators out of jail
he takes the enumerator quality away |
from the incarcerated best workers
and leaves them denuded of their official |
glory. That way of cutting the Gordlan
knot, and getting the census taken While
the census takers remained in Jail, never
occurred to Judge Patterson perhaps
but if it had it probably would have been
rejected. The judges sense OF justice
would have been shocked by the sugges-
ton that the drunken and disorderly
conduct of Republican worker should
work a forfeiture of his office, as we'll as
fetch him into Jail. 1t is a punishment
not laid down in the law and therefore
not proper to be inflicted. The law, which
is the perfection Of reason, does not re-
uuire a census enumeratOr and Republi-
can best worker to be sober and orderly,
and to keep out of jail, but it relies upon
the distinguished good sense OF
the judiciary to see that the
enumeratOrs are not confined dur
ing the necessary period of their OIL
cial labors. We assume, therefore, that
Judge Patterson looks upon Supervisor
Snowden's action, in taking off the otil-
cial heads of the convicts whom he had
restored to liberty in time to discharge
their duties, as very grave mistake,
wholly subversive of the true principles OF
justice, greatly tending to scandalize its
administration and to cast insult, IN
jury, degradation and contempt upon
the judges upon the bench who are envl-
roned 10y an atmosphere of authority
and power demanding submission, rever-
ence, respect cas- the representa-
tives and exponents of sovereign power" "
Destruction of public confidence in
courts is an invitation to revolution and
anarchy" what measure of condemna'
ton then must be meted out to Super
visor Snowden, who comes along after
Judge Patterson has released his emu
meratOrs SO that they may be ready tf
take the census on the first of June, and
deliberately declares he will have no cen
sus takers who can't keep out of Jail.
We call that using the court despite
fully bringing into it insult, injury
degradation and contempt; failing t.
yield it submission, reverence, respect
and inviting away from it public conf
dence. Judge Patterson must SO look at it
1t is good for Snowden that he is not ;
member of this bar. We look at his con
duct just as our worthy judge looks at it
After championing that distinguishes
functionary and defending the good sens
and amiability which caused him to re
lease these best workers and censu
takers we feel indignant that MI
Snowden should not keep them in hi
bosom. They got out because they Dor
the United States commission; an
now it is taken from them. 1t
fraud upon the judge, upon Us
upon the community and the col
demned. 1t is taking a vile advantag
of men who are laid away by the lee
in jail. 1t is condemning them will
out giving them chance to be hear(
1t is Furnishing them with a penalty nc
imposed by the law. 1t is higf-hande
outrage, by which justice and the Judge
are trampled in the dust. 1t is not to
calmly endured; and we respectful
suggest that rule be entered to sho
cause why these United States officer
having been committed to Jail clothe
with that high dignity, al
not to be considered as sti
invested with it on their releas
therefrom; which will raise the impo
tant question as to whether judge ca
be spit upon and United States supe
visor be permitted to interfere with h
administration of, justice and interpr
tatiOn of the law.