The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1886-06-25
THE SUPREME COURT.
A Reply To The News and Observers
Editorial.
Especial Cor STATE CHRONICLE

AN'PN w ue news anu
Editorial.
Especial Cor. STATE CnKo>IcLK.l
The News Observer of the 10th INST al
legcs that the opposition to the rcnomiua
tlon OF Messrs. Smith and Ashe for Judges
OF the Supreme Court, has its origin III the
desire of certain lawyers to put new men
on the bench whose practice may fall to
the aforesaid lawyers.
1t has always been understood that the
News Observer. claiming 10 be the organ
of the Democratic party, put forth the
claim of never urging the nomination of
any man, but contented itself with sup
porting the ticket after the convention,
but IN the article of the 10th inst, not
content with casting unmeritcd rcproaCh
upon the advocates of new men, II declares
strongly for Messrs. Smith and Ashc.
1t is a singular thing that it should be-
reserved for the News Observer To discover
the astonishing fact that the gentlemen of
the legal profession who are opposed to
the denomination of Judges Smith and
Ashe are actuated 10y mean and sordid
motives. Is il always To Toe assumed that
those gentlemen who are so unfortunate
as to differ from the Ncws-O Observer are
very little removed from rascality:
In imputing the desire to prevent the
nomination of Judges Smith and Ashc for
purely mcrcenary motives wrong Is done
to many lawyers Of the State which they
cannot fail to resent This is the first time
we had heard that the practice of two law
yers, who may be elevated To the bench,
distributed among the lawyers of the State,
was sufficient to corrupt that part of the
legal profession who believe that IL ls the
part of wisdom to nominate younger and
more vigorous men. Lawyers III all parts
of the State, young and old, men who have
been faithful and loyal to the best inter
ests of the State, are brought under the
sweeping condemnation SO oracularly pro
nounccd by the News Observer. No mat
ter how pure and diSintercsted they may
be in their regard for the highest efficiency
Of our highest judicial tribunal, they are
branded as hungry lawyers, intent upon
fees and sacrificing their character and
honor for chance at the remains Of the
| magnificent practice of a couple Of gentle
men, who may, perhaps be nominated for
| Judges of the Supreme Court.
We were not aware that any two law
| yerS in North Carolina were IN the enjoy
ment of so profitable practice as to ma -
| their civil DEATH by shelving them in the
| Supreme Court, n matter Of such momen-
| tOus interest to the hundreds Of lawyers
| of the State. But such is the brilliant dis
| covery Of the News Observer.
| There is, it appears, no such thing as
| disinterested desire for the public good to
| be found anywhere among the lawyers Of
| North Carolina who have the arrogan:
presumption to ask that gentlemen who
| attained the age of - and who, according
| to the mortuary tables, have no longer
| lease of life than & years, be not renonI
mated for term Of eight years to an i'm
portant Office to perform the constantly
! increasing duties of which will tax to the
uttermost all the powers Of vigorous and
middle aged manhood.
| If an anxious desire for the fees Of AS
| pirants for judicial honors is the sole mo
| tive which influences lawyers to oppose the
| nomination of Messrs- Smith and Ashc,
we await with natural anxiety the procla-
| nation of the News Observer which will
clearly define the corrupt motive which
| influences the many newspapers Of the
| State to pursue the same course. For we
cannot conceive that the able and inteli-
| gent editors Of the State can escape the
condemnation which must fall with a
corroding blight upon all advocates Of
new judges.
1t may be that by elevating new judges
| to the bench these newspapers expect theii
subscription lists to enlarge and their ad
vertisng patronage to become more lucra
tive by the addition Of the fees which
| formerly fell to the share OF the new
Judges, but how this is to be accomplished
is problem which must be left for solu
tion to the sprightly genius Of the News
| Observer.
Another query suggested by the editorial
referred to is as to the motive which lnfiu
ences many of the people outside Of news
| paper and professional circles in demand
ing change in the personal Of the Su
prcme Court. But life is too short tC
search for improper and impure motive
and we prefer to believe that the lawyers
the newspapers aud the people general,
desire change because they believe th'
interests Of justice demand it, and not bc
cause any Of them expect to be benefitte'
pecuniarily thereby. And in this desir
they make no reflection upon Judges Smith
and Ashe for whom all our people hav'
the highest esteem. We regret that th'
time has come when these excellent gen
tlemen, who have rendered such valuable
service to the State must retire The bes
interests of the people and Of the supreme
Court require it and the wishes Of IndiYld
uals must yield to the public good
CITIZEN.