The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-27
ANECDOTES OF JUDGE BLACK
How He Undertook to Squech the Elder
Bennett and Got WOrsted.
Washington Special.

Washington Special.
During Judge Blacks last visit to Wash
ington, shortly before he was taken ILL., he
met Mr. Preston, the correspondent OF the
New York Herald and asked him how the
paper was doing. Mr. Preston replied that
1t was prospecting, and that 1t was still the
peoples paper. Said Mr.. Black: at was just
that way III 1858. l was present at an inter
view between the elder Bennett and Presi-
dent Buchanan, over thirty years ago. Mr..
Buchanan asked Mr.. Bennett how he had
made the Herald such prosperous paper.
4" The people, replied Mr.. Bennett sup
port the Herald and L act on the principle
that the paper in turn should support the
people. 1 try to make it reflex of public
opinion, and to follow 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 a newspaper should have
some fixed convictions of his own; that he
should rather act with the Wing or the Dem
ocratic party. 81 do not believe" said he,
Gin the old adage vox populi, vox Del"
President Buchanan was surprised at Black S
brusqueness. Bennett was not only sur
prised, but a trifie mad. The Judge under
took to squelch the editor "Mr. Bennett"
he said, ALLOW me to ask you a question. II
you had lived in Jerusalem i'll the time of
Christ when the interest of humanity was at
stake-when the Saviour of the world was
on trial before Pontius Pilate-would you
have been on the side OF the mob, the rabble
of Jerusalem, who cried, Cruelty Him. or
would you have been on the side of the Son
of God2'
Mr. Buchanan was about to interpose,
thinking that Mr. Bennett had been foored.
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 1 should have been on the
side of the people, on the SIDE of the rabble,
as you call them. l should have been on
the side of the multitude, who, as you say,
CRIED Cruelty Him. Had He not been cru
Gifted, Mr. Black where to-day would have
been your hope of salvation?'
The Judge put 10 more questions The
elder Bennett had given him an answer
When President johnson was returning to
| Washington, after swinging around the CIR
cle," he stopped at Baltimore and addressed
he was stopping. Mr. Johnson
made one of his random speeches,
trimming over with patriotism and
illusions to his devotion to the con.
stituton. He was applauded to the echo,
and was delighted with the effect of his vic
tory. On returning to his parlor, Judge
Black was the first to greet him "Ah, Mr..
Black, said M. Johnson, ''the voice of the
| people is the voice of God" You don't be.
lieve anything of the sort" retorted the
judge, mindful of his experience with Mr..
Bennett. 81 do" was the Presidents reply;
Il believe it more now than ever | did. y
Suppose" sGd Mr.. Black, 1.-THE people were
to ask you to do something contrary to law,
would you violate your oath of office and dc
| it?"
mo" 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 liberating
| Barabbas on demand of the mob and turn
| ing over Christ for crucifxion, would you
have regarded the voice of the multitude on
that occasion as the voice of God9'
| 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
centuries of history. With the light l have
to-day certainly should have been on the
side of Christ"
Judge Black subsidized. He was ever after
ward prepared to let the assertion that the
voice of the people is the voice of God go I'M
questioned.