The Dillon tribune., 1881-05-28
WASlilNGruN, MA, .Ist. 1851

W A>lilNGTbN, MAY .Isl. 1901.
Tn: confirmation OF Stanley Matthews
as Associate Justice OF the Sul'rcm- Court
is sin,,,lv one more step in the degradation
several wears. 1t is an indication, that "a
sort OF moral dry rot has taken hold Of pub
lie men in this country, without distinction
of party, and that the !dtashionct idea OF
our highest judicial body has undergone a
decided change for the worse.
Ii there is any one thing in our Anglo
Saxon inheritance more precious than any
other, it is that every man, rich or Ixxr.
weak or powerful, stands on III equal foot
ing in our courts; that their precincts are
sacred: that no corruption can enter
there; that Justice is not sold either for
money or influence. Down to very re-
cent day the traditions OF the Supreme
Court OF the United States we're the tradi.
tions OF the English Judiciary. The men
who sat on its bench were not only great
lawyers, but great and pure men. The
names of Jay, Rutlcdgc, Marshall. Tan'v.
Curtis, and Chase make distinguished
roll that can be surpassed in no country,
and we readily understand why Mr.. Sum.
nvr found the great English !Jurist> hold
ing our court of last resort in as high r.
spect as any oil their own.
But ii few veafs has changed this. and
the changes still goes on. To-daya large
number OF people among those who come
most in contract with the court not o,lv
question its ability but It is a terrible thing
for English spc;,~ins people to lose faith in
the administration OF Justice, for the well
being and safety of our social system i'ang>
| on the belief OF the people in tho purity OF
the bench II is essential not only that our
Judges shall be pure, but that those who go
before ti.cm have faith in their purity
| The decisions ofthe court must b. implicitly
respected or the ends Of justice t..il OF &c.
cn'np'ishnsnt
Only few cars ago Justices Strong and
Bradley wcre appointed. 1t is an open Sc
crct t.. they were placed on the he nch
with vi.w specially to decision in favor
Of the lcaAi tender act. Great as may have
been the wsi, to have this law sustained, it
was Il shock to see the court packed, even
| in the interest OF the Government, and
against private suitors. The old traditions
of the ,ercI, were ovcrthrown. In one
case at least parties did not stand on an
equal tootn. BET; re the Supreme Court. 1t
was the first step in the degradation of the
! Judiciary. From that dav to this the court
has CONE. to be more and more reproacl,.
1t has come to be known that the court
seeks the accomplishment of other ends OF
Justice Decisions are made to compass
the objects of those who have influence
with the Judges. Politics have crept in,
and the constitution has been distorted to
make it agree will, congressional !eg'sla,
ton; money influences have entered and
decisions affecting tho money market have
strangely enough been known by favored
persons in Wall Street before they were
delivered.
All this was bad enough, infinitely worse
than anything tina. could have been expect
ed of the successor of Jay and Marshall
hut that which happened is the worst OF all
\ Judge of the Supreme Court is appoint
cd and confirmed at the dictation OF the
ovcrshadowing railroad interest. Nothing
is looked upon more iealously than the
growing power Of the great railroad c"rpor
ations. They have cncroached everywhere
Their lobbics are at The doors OF Congress
and almost every State legislature. They
dictate nominations and elections. .Ayan>
them the people have had but one proer
,ion-thc cou, ts--;lnd now these are grasp
cd in the powerful tolls and the indit!dua
cannot stand before the highest tribunal ii
the land on an equal footing with the cor
porutions. Against this consu,natin'
fought the ablc>t men in the Senate and a
tn: bar. The strongest committee OF tn,
Senate voted against it almost unanimous
", and Edmund>, Thurman and l;avar,
entered their protests. But the imt'urnc,
of .hc railroad lobby was greater than all
this, and the corporation attorney will do,
il robe and take lis scat upon thu
bench.
The great sensation in political circle
caused bv the c>ignation OF Senators Conk
lin. and Plat. has in Il measure PASSED
over. There is, at least nothing new to-
me to give concerning IT, dhc general un
derstanding here seems to be that Mr.
Conklny took this step to get a reelection
and an endorsement at the hands OF 'h
New York Legislature. .An.ong Rcpuhsi
cans, opinions are about rvcnl! divided a