New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-02
DEvOCR4TTC "GEYEROSITY.p

The Democratic idea of the uses Of public
Office and Of the administration Of the public
service, particularly of the judicial depart
ment was well illustrated at Trenton the
other night by Mr.. Leon Albeit. who has the
misfortune to be running this year for
Governor Of New-Jerscy. 1t was at Demo
cratic meeting to ratify Mr.. Abbetts misfOr-
tune. Speeches had been made by Attorney
General Stockton and Charles f. Hcndrickson.
Concerning Judge Dixon, the Republican can
didate for Governor, opposed to Mr.. Albeit,
the Attorney General said Z" What can | say
"as to gentleman who has three been APP
"pontcd by Democratic Governors TO the
"Supreme Court Bench, and who stands pre-
"eminent among the judges of tho State
Nothing except that the Republican Convcn-
" ton was very stupid in making poor can
"didate for Governor out of most excellent
Judge" Mr.. HendricksOn spoke in high
terms Of Judge Dixon, saying he was so useful
in his present position that all good citizens
should unite to keep him there. Following
these speakers it was hardly possible for
Mr.. Leon Albeit to say anything deroga-
tory to the character of his opponent,
but this is what he did say: "Thc
htplulVdu ihu'llil't iu'l Nlblllli HIS
"bccn indUrscd by two Democratic Gov
"erors who have appointed HIM TO the Supreme
Court Bench This is truej but he was APP
"pointcd in order that the Bench might be
"kept nOn-partisan, and this generosity of
democratic GOVumOrsis rewarded by the TAX
cling from that nOn-partisan Bench of man TO
eight the Democracy. This teaches that gen
"erosity is wasted upon the Republicans
stand to-day at tho head Of an aggressive
democracy that mean 10 sort OF compromise
with the Republicans"
According then to Mr. Leon Albeit, the
judicial Office is not so much a public trust
as an item in the capital stock of political par
ties for trading purposes. The Democratic
Governors who appointed Judge Dixon did
not have in view the public interest, but made
the appointment merely as an act of gener-
osity to their opponents. The appointment
was not n duty they had to perform, a re-
sponsibility to discharge only a gift they
had at their disposal; and instead Of reward
ing a political friend with it, they exhibited
rare generosity and gave it to an opponent.
And now, Judge Dixon having shown such
ability and capacity in the Office of Judge that
the people recognize his fitness for ahigher Office
and desire him to ill it, Mr. Albeit thinks
those who have nominated him are guilty of
the bascst ingratitude TO the Democratic party
1t strikes us he might have made a much
more forcible argument for the election of a
Democratic Governor lad he offered the in
stance of the appointment of Judge Dixon to
show that Democratic Governors were in the
habit Of making unexccpuonable selections
for the Bench, and on the strength of the pre-
cedent appealed to the Ncw-Jersey voters to
continue the party in power But Mr.. Albeit
seems unable to see anything but party. lie
does not commend past administrations tor
having made such a wise and proper appoint
ment. On the contrary, he nfcrcntially con-
dennis them for it because he sees nothing in
it but uncalled-fOr generosity to opponents
which they repay with base ingrattude. "No
more such appointments says Mr.. Leon
Abbett, "if | should be elected Governor"
He is "at the head Of an aggressive Democracy
that mean no sort Of compromise with the
Republicans" Which is another euphuism,
we suppose, for the old adage-not so popular
now as formerly-"TO the victors belong the
suOilsu