Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1884-04-09
The Judgeship.

| apply TO TINS ana all Other counties
nominating and electing Judges this
year.
1t is not remarkable that the people
of this county are deeply interested in
the coming contest for the Judgeship.
1t would be much more remarkable if
| thev were not. 1t is not an unimport-
ant matter they will be called upon to
decide next November when they de-
post their ballots for candidate for
the high position which Judge Mehard
now holds by appointment of the Gov
ernor The matter of the Judgeship
touches society at vital points. 1t has
to do with life, liberty, property and
the performance of engagements, and
these are essential to the very exis-
tence of human society. There are
other interests of great Importance in
volved in the coming polical campaign,
and which have to do with the well be-
ing Of society But the administration of
justice, having to do with the existence
of society itself, is immeasurably su-
perior in point of urgency and import
ance to anything ind everything which
rises no higher than matter of eI-
pedieney.
1t is true that we are governed by
written constitutions and fixed laws, to
which Judges as well as others are re-
quired to give heed; but still judges
are interpreters of the laws, and as
such are clothed with much power
which is akin to absolutism. By the
terms of our laws much is left to their
special judicial discretion, which may
be often exercised to the detriment of
individuals or community and this
without hope of speedy remedy. In
view of these facts, the manner of man
who shall be clothed with the judicial
ermine by the sufrages of the people Of
Mercer county next November, be-
comes an exceedingly important mat
ter. We may make mistakes with
reference to the men selected for other
positions to be filed at the same time,
as we have often done in the past, but
such mistakes may be speedily correct
ed, or borne without great suffering,
loss or menace Notso with the Judge
ship. A mistake in this direction is a
mistake of infinitely greater moment,
and beyond correction, except in ex-
treme cases, for period OF ten years.
With all it's boasted intelligence, cul-
ture and Christian civilization, the
world has not made rapid advances in
and in its method of administering JUS
tice. 1t is true that it is not frequent
that the moral sense of communities, in
these days, is shocked by the unseemly
exhibition of corrupt, iguorant and un-
just judges. 1t is creditable to our
civilization that but comparatively few
unworthy men are ever clothed with
the judicial ermine 1t cannot be claim
ed, however, that the people, who are
| the sovereigns now, are more exactlng
and watchful of their Judges, and ready
to lenounce and depose them, than
were the sovereigns of a much earlier
and less favored age. 1t is said by
historians that the Persian Kings were
extremely careful to have justice rem
dered with integrity and impartiality
by the royal judges who held their
places under them, and that one OF
these judges having suffered himself TO
be corrupted by bribe, was condemn
ed by Cambyses to be put to death
without mercy, and to have his skin
put upon the seat where he used to sit
and give Judgment, and where his son,
who succeeded him in Office, was to sit,
that the very place whence he gave
judgment, should remind him contin-
ually of his duty.
1t is said by historians that the
Athenian Courcil or Senate known as
the Areopagus, body whose duty it
was to see that the laws were duly OBJ
served, and especially to sit as judges
in criminal cases, held their sittings in
the night, that they might not be soft
ened by the sight of the guilty, and
might judge solely according to justice
and the laws In the presence of these
judges the orators or lawyers, were not
permitted to any exordium or perora-
tion, or indulge in any style of speech
calculated to excite the passions, but
were obliged to confine themselves
solely to the subject matter of their
cause, course of procedure and sys-
tenn of legal practice which it would be
well were it more closely followed in
these latter days.
1t is greatly to be regretted that
matter of so much sacredness, and one
! freighted with so much good or evil as
the choice may be wise or otherwise,
should be subjected to the chances and
uncertainties of political scramble for
place. Our laws have given US,
whether wisely or not, an electiye Ju-
dietary. Political parties have given
us systems of nominations for all elec-
tive Offices. All existing systems are
more or less defective. The delegate
system as used in this county and else
where, has degenerated, as we have
heretofore said, into a miserable, trad
ing, traficing, bartering abomination.
1t should be discarded at the earliest
possible day. 1t would be even well
at the coming Republican County Con
vention for delegates who are ostensibly
sent there to represent their constItu-
ents, to break way from,the pernicious
custom of representing only local can
didates, and manlully strike out upon
the idea of being in fact, what they are
now, only in theory, the representa-
ii, es of the people.
But candidate for Judge must be
nominated and elected, whether an
elective Judiciary is wise, or vicious
system of making nominations is re-
formed, or otherwise. And it will be
the part of wisdom to make the best of
our surroundings and opportunities.
We need for Judge good lawyer; one
who has not only mastered the general
principles of law, but who is thoroughly
conversant with statute law and the
current decisions of our higher courts.