Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-07-15

HONOR TO Be LONGER TRUSTED
WITH THE NATIONS. N. \. TINES.
IFE ISTELLIGESCER CONTEMPT CASE,
The decision of the Supreme Court Of
Appeals Of this State. in the matter OF at
tschmeut tor contempt against Nessrs.
Frew and Hart, Of the Wheeling lntelligeu
Ger, for the publication, or rather re-publica-
ton Of matter rejecting upon the personal
character Of he Judges Of the Court, has
not only excited interest and criticism
throughout our own State but IS being dis
cuSsed with freedom and ability 6y the press
of other States. Although rumors had
been floating ;hroug the air to that effect
the first publication of the charge that three
Of the Judges of the supreme Court Of this
State had indicated in advance what they
could be relied on for decision in a case
that might in the course OF events b.
brought before the Court ofwhich they were
members 10. investigation and judicial de
termination, appeared in the Greeu5rier In
dependent, a reliable Democratic paper
published at Lewis6urg the home OF one Of
the Judges of the Court The language OF
the Independent in that connection was as
follows:
Three Of the Judges Of the Court Of Ap-
PealS we're consulted as to the scope Of their
decision, and 70 them were submitted the
letter and circular, which they examined
revised and approved.
That publication was made las, August
and as no effort was made TO deny the
charge therein containedfo- so long time
public opinion rather settled down to the
conclusion that there was some foundation
for he allegations and the people Of the
State felt sense Of humiliation that the
judicial crmine should be sOiled in the cess
pool Of par,izan politics, and that judge,
should he so unmindful OF the high places
they occupied as TO degrade the Judiciary
by committing an otiense that was impeach-
able This sense Of humiliation was eSpe-
cially bitter 10 the Democratic voters OF the
State who felt that they were responsible for
the construction Of the Court When the
statement made by the Independent was
caught up BY the Republican press ofthe
State and hurled broadcast with the mali
ciuuS delight Of parti@anS who prefer 70 Sc
cure paIty advantage than 70 protect the
fame and tair name of the State. the Reels
NER as an advocate and exponent OF true
Democratic principles and Jealous tor the
purity and welfare OF the party was imPell-
ed to call upon the promulgarOrs Of the
charge to furnish the evidence Of its truth
fuluess or in the event 0: failure TO do 50
to stop their malignant ISLANDERS.
1t Was, therefore. with no little degree o
satisfaction We saw the court after so long
time seem to arouse to the dignity o. the
situation and issue its proceedings against
the IntelHgencer to show cause why it should
not be proceeded against for contempt Our
expectation was and such was public eX-
pectation, that the members Of the court
holding supreme power in their hands
would overs,eP the technical barriers sur
rounding il and not only open, but invite
the freeSt, fullest. and tairest investigation
of the whole matter, aud embrace the oppoI-
tunity to place itself before the public as We
believed it would do, fully acquitted and
indicated Of the charges that had
been alleged. We confess to a
little partizan weakness We had in
anticipation Of hurting back upon the
Republican press the falsity of the accuse
lions which We had believed were circulated
for purely political purposes. While we do
not call in question the right OF the Court
to do so, We regretfully confess that We share
in the additional humiliation Of the Demo
cratic voters of the State, that the Court
preferred to hedge itself with technical dig,
nifty rather than to present to the PeO-
pie Of the State full exposition Of the
entire mater. This humiliation is render
ed more intense BY the public avowal OF
Mr. HARLow, the editor Of the Independent,
that he knew the statements made in the
publication Of his article to be true at the
time they we're pabished and he stands
ready at any time 10 pro-
drce the evidence to sustain
their truthfulneSs. Mr. Harlow is a promi-
nent citizen Of this State, a Gentleman OF
well established integrity and veracity, and
his word carries with it to the public mind
al the hn.:es Of a judicial decision, But thr
most distressing feature of this unfortunate
proceeding is what we conceive to be an ei-
fort 10 stiHe the voice of the press and to
DESTROY its freedom, cardinal principle tor
which our revolutionary ancestry struggled,
and became one Of the corner stones OF our
free American Government We accord to
Courts the right TO maintain their dignity.
We DENY to them the power to absidge the
Constitutional rights OF the citizen We
scco,d 10 the Courts the right to
v,,S;cs,e themselves from false
sec,sation and 10 preserve the high
s,.pSr ID of judicial integrity. We deny to
.h.r the power TO deprive the hum'ie'' IN
,;d.aI Of the land the right to maintain,
.I .r..