The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-07-28

0uR esteemed Supreme Court continues
to attract attention from the outside world,
Here ia choice morsel from the Central
Mu Journal, published at ST. Louis, in its
issue Of July .5.h: ...
II seems to us from the tone Of the deci.
sion 0! the Supreme Court OF Appeals Of
Wtst Virginia. which We publish in this
number, that ite j1dges are ION their metal. !"
We do not know how we would feel were
We on the bench, bat We believe that
while the administration o! Justice should
be beyond such criticism mat It would
hfirg it into public contempt, the Judges
should not be beyond the pale OF public
disenssion. They are but public servants,
controlling one Of the three coordinate
depsr;men,s Of one form OF govern.
ment 1t has been said that the lssst
danger 10 lls exists in that department. We
deny it From the positiou which they
occupy, the learning they are supposed to
poesess, the ability. they command, the peo-
pie are apt to have great iorbearanee, and
sccord to them that superiority and ipfu-
ence which may step by step make Tn.
croschmen,s upon popular rights The
executive can rarely act except the
legislature moves, but let them
both ssitats a public measure uu-
III agitation is exhausted snd then
pass and improve il, and the Judiciary CAD
soon step in and show its power by declaring
me measure to be improperly enacted or
to be in conflict with the fundamental law
Itself. This illustrates ths power they en-.
Joy, and TO say that healthy administra-
!!on Of justice, !. G, faithful seryics by our
Judicial servants, rather our judicial rulers,
Is not promoted by free crlticism Of their
ac's is 10 make a claim which cannot be
sa'd to be based upon logic. liza bill belors
The legislature be subj ,ct to criticism, why
not n sui before = court, which is Of great
Public importance2 And, ii the prera Of
the day learn Of something derogatory to
Inc honss!y OF the judges, eYg that they
are conducting their cour. in the iuteres.
oi The party to which they belong, the
people should know it, and, il it turn out
20 oe ialss, they should not without trial
os jaty, condemn the publisher and edi.
!of o. the Jealous newspaper to pay fines or
suatr imprisonment. II was their duty to
publish the rumor fer what it was worth,
and ii the judges imagine that by such
aeslon they can "choks" diseNssiUn,
ne sooner the people seq quaint
them with due sense 1 Of y. their
relations to each other, the better 1t will
oe lor both. We have known Of whole.
sals charges Of bribery made agalnst the
Judges Of the hights 8: court .of one great
slate. And 1t wss free criticism which
secured the ultimate proof Of them Judge
are going too lar when they. declare tha,
nn'a7ersble criticism OF their conduct o,
supposed conduct Is a dangerous libel on
lus'lce. To be sure wholesale attack or
!ae administration OF justice is calculated
70 bring Il into contempt. The same may
oe sad Of the other departments. But oc
eas'onal csiticism by Que from his sense o
an'y TO the public, Ia something whict
eh+u!d not b. dealt with in the high. h.hand
Gu manner Of tyrant :$sstS n = = 10y gS
This Is what is said, ,oi a body which hal
been endorsed, and two Of whose member
nave been renominated by toe Democrat,
State convention. { .5ti q "a ~