New-York tribune., 1881-12-26
THE COXGUJTE1U CESSPOCL.

There is one man connected with the trial
at Washington who has thereby earned public
contempt. The country has no worse opinion
of the assassin than it had when he was
brought in, pale and shaking Ike the coward
criminal that he is. to face insultcr civiliza-
ton and outraged law. 1t has better opinion
of some Of the attorneys in the case than be-
fore, and can respect Mr.. ScOvlles earnestncss
in the disgusting tasl. that a sense of duty
placed before him. The audiences have dis
graced themselves, and done what little they
could to disgrace the Court, but the Snowman
who contrives to make his show low and de-
grading does not usually expect or desire in
telligentand self-re5pcctmg audiences. The man
who is responsible for the most intOlerajc and
blistering disgrace that has yet befallcn the ju
dicial system Of this country isJudSe Cox. We
not refer to his papabe leaning to the side
of the prisoner, in rcm'rlls upon testimony
or in treatment of opposing counsel, for
there are some very excellent and worthy
judges who, having formed from tic
evidence strong conviction as to Il
case before them, cannot prevent that
feeling from influencing tcir bearing.
Nobody cares any longer which side may be
favored by the opinion Of a person who has
not sef-respect enough 10 protect himself and
the Court which he dsaaces from the worst
possible insults, continued all day and every
day for weeks.
When the trial began the public was anxious
to believe that the outrageous behavior of the
criminal was tolerated by the Court only long
enough and far enough to prevent any sus-
piciOn of unfairncss in the trial, or. It WIS
thought, at a later and worse stage, to enable
the jury and the public to be perfectly con.
vinced rs to the sanity of the assassin. But thc
time has long gone by when the behavior of
the Judge could be eX laincd or excused on
any such ground. Long ago this shameful
exhibition in an American court, before tie
amazed and disguised gaze of the whole
civilized world, ceased to have any possible
usefulness or justification. Judge Cox lifted
himself down to the level Of Guitcau when ne
threatened 70 gag the prisoner, and having
been at once insultcd again more scandalously
than ever, failed to keep his word.
From that hour, the trial has been
one long, foul stain upon the jude
and the courts OF the country. The whole
world has been watching this case with rare
interest, and 1t has seen a spectacle never pre-
scntcd anywhere else in land protesting to
be civilized. It has seen the yilcst OF criminals
permitted, day after day and week after week,
TO empty the foulcst abuse not merely upon
the Judge, who does not seem to care whether
anybody respects his Court any more than
he respects himself, but upon officials of
every kind and grade, upon distinguished and
honorable attorneys, who would be instantly
protected in the discharge Of their duties by
any decent Court, and upon honest Witnesses
who are compelled by law to submit as long as
Judge Cox pleases to DRAG them through the
Guitcau cesspool. Men of high honor in many
States, and of great scientific attainments
have been treated by this Judge as if it were
the greatest pleasure in life to him to see de-
cent and clcanly persons spewed upon in pub
lie for his entertainment
The conduct of this Judge has placed mark
upon him which will never rub off-but for
that he does not seem TO care, aud why should
anybody else7 The thing that is hard
to bear is that the whole judicial
system of this country will remain dis
graced in the estimation Of many people
at home and almost everybody in other lands
if a Judge who has made such an exhibition of
himself is permitted TO remain upon the
bench. If it Is so that the judicial system of
this country can anywhere get such man
into place of high responsibility, but cannot
get him out of it when it is known what he
is, then the disgrace which will stick to
that system cannot be considered wholly
undeservcd Of course, until the trial is over the
United States must submit to be dishonOred
as much as Judge Cox pleases and can. As
soon as it has ended, means ought at once to
be found for manifcsting officially and formally
the public feeling rs to such Judge and such
a nnrfnrmance-