Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-05-29
THE CIRCUIT JUDeEsHIP.
[From the Marshall Democrat. /

The Sedalla Democrat, in an lily
judged, officiously and Extensively toned
editorial, revOlts against the action of
the judicial committee in calling
primary election i'm the district, on the
18th of July, for the purpose of nomi-
mating democratic candidate for cir
cuit judge. That paper demands that
the committee meet again, rescind its
action. and call convention to nomi-
nate the candidate. The paper is evil
IDENTIFY afraid to trust the people, but
wants circuit Judge nominated by the
snbterranean and questionable methods
characteristic of conventions.
The Sedalia Democrat bases its skick'
on the following ridiculous and nntena-
BILE grounds:
ga canvass has been forced upon the
candidates for circuit judge alike un-
worthy of the Office to which they
aspire and of the candidates themselves.
Our district, or central democratic
committee has forced, as we believe,
an unwise and unusual canvass on the
candidates, which will cause the gen.
tlenen aspiring to the bench to become
mendicants, vote beggars, like man
seeking the pettiest county or township
oIiCO. luc pOiCy 10, duu IL 10 mai.
tained by public sentiment, to separate
our judiciary, the bench, as much from
politics as possible But the central
committee thrusts, or plunges the con-
test for circuit judge in this district iil-
to the very mire aud dirty pool of poll
tics"
worthy" the candidates or the Office? Is
x,,tth A,Nla ksrprp
or repulsive to some of the candidates?
If so, as the boys say, they "dOn't
have" TO be candidates.
Our contemporary is mistaken, we
think, in the assertion that there has
been policy maintained of separating
| the judiciary from politics. The judi
ciary officers all over this and other
states, chosen at every election, ARE uni
| fOrm!y partisan nominees; and the
partisan contests over the election of
judges are as clear-cut, well defined
and stubbornly fought as those for any
other office. AT every election the
supreme judgeship is strenuously
sought after through political channels,
and the circuit, criminal, probate and
county judges are invariably partisan
nominees, and tealty to party is always
considered an essential qualification.
1t is held by the democracy that it is
as Important that supreme or circuit
judge should be thorough, out-and-
out democrat. as that governor or q
congressman should be. The applica.
ton and effect of principle of law
may greatly depend upon the political
standpoint from which it Is judged.
Aud lawyers who have studied the
same books, or even been educated at
the same school, may honestly differ in
their Judgment of a legal proposition
solely by reason OF the different politi-
cal standpoints from which they view
the question. Thus the Sedalia Demo-
Gratis idea OF separating the judgeship
from politics is the merest "rOt" The
people are all partisans, aud they want
their officers, from the highest to the
lowest, to be thorough party men. Not
that they want the law administered in
one way TO republicans and in a differ
ent way to democrats, but to all alike,
from democratic standpoint.
| Our contemporary 8 assertion in re-
gard to plunging the contest for circuit
judge unto the very mire and dirty
pool of politics" is merely cant. Mho
makes politics a "dirty pool?'' The
candidates. or the people? We don't
believe the people, acting in their
capacity rs sovereign citizens, con-
siituie ''dirty pool" And we believe
primary election by the people to be
IA better, more honest and satisfactory
! system than the convention system.
Therefore, we say, let the action of the
committee stand and the primary be
held 10 the end that the nominee for
circuit judge may be the choice of the
people OF the district.