Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-08-30
JUDGE BLACK.
Some Anecdotes of Him.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25.-Anecdotes
of the late Judge Jere Black are circu-
lating freely On his last visit to Wash
ington, shortly before he was taken
i'll, he met Mr.. Preston, the CORES
pendent of the New York Herald, and
asked him how the paper was doing.
Mr.. Preston replied that it was pros
pering, and that it was still the peo-
pies paper. Said Mr. Black: 1T was
just that way in 1858. [ was present
at an interview between the
ELDER BENNETT AND PRESIDENT BU-
CHANAN,
over thirty years ago. Mr.. Buchanan
asked Mr.. Bennett how he had made
the Herald such prosperous paper.
1.-THE people," replied Mr.. Bennett,
support the Herald, and act on the
principle that the paper in turn should
support the people. try to make it
reflex OF public opinion, and to fol
low rather than attempt to lead the
public"
Judge Black did not like this policy.
and bluntly told Mr.. Bennett so. He
thought the conductor of newspaper
his own; that he should rather act
with the wing or democratic party.
" do not believe" said he, in the
old adage 'vox popuh vox Del"
President Buchanan was surprised at
BLACKS BRUsQUENEss.
Bennett was not only surprised, but
trite mad. The judge undertook to
squelch the editor Mr.. Bennett"
he said, "allow me to ask you cues
ton. If you had lived in Jerusalem
IN the time of Christ, when the inter
ests of humanity were at stake-when
the Savior of the world was on trial
before POntius Plate would YOU
have been on the side of the mob, the
rabble of Jerusalem, who cried, Cru
city Him, or would you have been on
the side of the Son of God?"
Mr.. Buchanan was about to inter
pose, thinking that Mr. Bennett had
been floored. The editor, however,
was quick with his answer. In that
broad Scotch accent which came to
HIM in
MOMENTS OF EXCITEMENT
he said: Mr. Black, [ should have
been on the side of the people, on the
side of the rabble. as you call them.
[ should have been on the side of the
multitude who, as you say, cried
cruelty him Had He not been cru
CITED, Mr. Black, where to-day would
have been your hope of salvation?"
The judge put no more questions
The elder Bennett had given him an
answer
When President Johnson was re
turning to Washington after swing
ing around the circle, he stopped at
Baltimore and addressed a crowd In
front of the hotel at which he was
stopping. Mr. Johnson made one of
his random speeches, trimming over
with patriotism and illusions to his
devotion to the constitution He was
applauded to the echo, and was de
lighted with the effect of his victory.
On returning to his parlor Judge
Black was the first to greet him. 'Ah,
Mr.. Black, said Mr.. Johnson, "the
voice of the people is the voice of
God" you don't believe anything
of the sort, +" retorted the
judge, mindful of his experience
with Mr. Bennett Il do,
was the presidents reply; 81 believe
it more now than ever / did" Sup
pose" said Mr.. Black, "the people
were to ask you to do something con
trary to law, would you violate your
oath office and do it,"
NO." answered Mr. Johnson, 81
would say then that the voice of the
people should be on the side of the
law"
Well" said Mr. Black, suppose
you had lived in the days of
PoNTIUs PLATE,
and had witnessed that immortal
scene of iberating Barabbas on de-
mand of the mob, and turning over
Christ for crucifxion, would yon
have regarded the voice of the multi
tude on that occasion as the voice of
| GodW
President Johnson must have heard
of the Bennett episode At any rate
he was equal to the occasion Mr..
Black" said he, "you forget that /
have the advantage of eighteen cen
turtles of history. With the light I
have to-day [ certainly should have
been on the side of Christ"
Judge Black subsidized. He was ever
afterward prepared to let the assertion
that the voice of the people is the
voice of God go unquestioned