The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-02-03
Ohio Again, and this Time n Brother.
in.LaW.

1t is not necessary for a Democratic
newspaper, to add anything to what the
New York Times says Concerning the
nomination of Mr. Stanley +. Matthews
rs Justice of the Supreme Court espe.
ciaily as the other Stalwart newspapers
(exccpiing the New York T.i5uncl write
in similar strain:
1t occurs 10 the mind at once that
Mr.. Matthews is an Ohio man. he
broiherin-law ard intimate, personal
and political friend Of the President
that he was one Of the counsel before the
Electoral Commission. and jealous
promoter OF the operations by which the
difficulties in Louisiana that met the
Administration after the electoral vote
Of that State had been secured were
adjusted. but il will strike no one that
lie is peculiarly fitted for high judicial
position
"ln political life lie has been cratic
and ilnpulsive, guided by almost any
consideration but profound regard for
tnc highest interests OF the public.
During his short career in the Senate nc
distinguished himself by advocating
some Of the mos. vicious measures pro.
posed at Il critical time in our financial
experience.
Before the standard silver dollar had
been restored TO our currency. to intro.
duceI confusion into the working
Of resumption, lie offered and sup.
ported resolution declaring it to be
the right of the Government to pay is
debt in the deprecated coin, his purpose
being to provide use for it and promote
its restoration. lie argued TINT silver
had not deprecated, because. as he
said, it would buy more in 1877 than
in 1870, basiDg the clair! on the fall
of general prices that had attended the
appreciation Of legal tender notes.
When an effort was made to bring him
to the real basis of comparison by a ref
crence to what had occurred abroad. he
scornfully u-kcd What have we to do
with abroad? p This revealed the range of
his reasoning in dealing with The operation
OF general principles. He was the
champion Of the corporations against the
Thurman bill, and as lawyer lie has
been conspicuous in his defence of cor.
porate interests.
These incidents in the history Of Mr.
Matthews are mentioned as illustrating
his lack of the judicial character. He
may have been honest and conscientious
III what he has done, but he has neither
been judicial nor iudicious.
"lf the character of our highest tribu-
nal has declined, it is due to the kind of
men who have been appointed to its
bench and the causes that have induced
the appointment. No other sanctitv
but the qualifications of the Judges can
hold 1t in that esteem and reference
which it is desirable that it should have
from all parties and classes of citizens.
Every new appointment should raise
and strengthen it in the estimation of
the people, and no consideration should
determine the appointment except the
eminent fitness OF the man for the place.
That this is the consideration that
induced President Hayes to appoint Mr..
Matthews no one will be bold enough to
pretend. Political and persona! grounds
are the only ones upon which the action
IL to be explained. But it is highly
characteristic. The President is theo-
reticnlly in favor Of selecting the best
and tittest men for office, but he lacks
the flrmness and resolution to put theory
III practice, rs he has been proving for
iouryears. If the appointment of aIr.
Matthews is confirmed, we can only
hope that his judicial career will rebound
tolhls honor and that of the country.
we can have no assurance of it from
what is known of his qualifications"
President Hayes behaves rs if the first
duty of President were to provide for
his friends and dependents, and he is
making the best of his opportunities.
Having in mind his generosity in dis
tributng public Offices and his personal
penuriousness, the public will begin to
suspect that desire to save the cost of
wines and other liquors had as much as
anything else to do with the economical
temperance (barring Roman punch)
enforced at the White House dinners.