The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-06-22
JUDGE ELLIOTT SANFORD.

Mr.. Harrison's guillotine works so
and easily, in spite of protesta-
iions that the civil service reform key
would lock it at certain times, that it
has not been satisted with a couple of
hundred postmasters' heads per day,
In addition TO a hundred or SO of mis-
c~ellaneous decapltations. Thirsting for
gore 1t has passed out of the political,
and entered the judicial field, and
seems 10 forget that locks were ever
made I lock, and has rolled into the
basket the head OF a pure, able, jealous
officer, the chief justice of the supreme
court of Utah.
The machine we speak Of is natural
ly a cowardly one, as must necessarily
be anything which could meet the ap.
probation of butchers like Robespierre
and Marat, but it was unusually cow
ardly in this instance. On May 10,
last, it directed Attorney-G General Mil
Ter to inform Judge Sandtord that the
president would be pleased TO receive
his resignation, as in the presidents
opinion "the public interest would
be subserved by a change In the office"
That the public interest would thus be
subserved was not true. Everybody
knew that-Judge Sandford among the
number. The Judge saw that 1t was
the ~guillotine and not justice that de-
manded his head. Like the man that
he Is he determined not to cOndone the
lie. He replied, asking If there were
| any complaints or charges against him
of misconduct, malversation or incom-
Potency, and saying that 1t "would be
unwise, unbecoming, and improper"
for him TO resign under such al impu-
tstion until the charges should be prov
ed or d%isproved. In response to his
letter the judge received from the
attorney-general a communication the
| gist of which was in these words:-"I
beg to say that there are on file in this
department some papers complaining
of the manner in which your judicial
duties are discharged. Independently
of these particular complaints, how
ever, the president has become satisfied
hat your administration OF the Office
was not IN harmony with the policy he
deemed proper to be pusrued Nth ref
erence to Utah affairs, and for this
1890. H. loai.ol 10 paa1n n chonnn
and, out OF courtesy, gave you an
opportunity to resign" This letter of
the machine contained q reflection en-
Judge Sandford which anything but a
soulless executioner would have
deemed necessary to prove, but not so
with il. Bent solely on %beheadjng it
had neither time for common decency
nor justice, but Judge Sandford's head
was filled with a bushel full of sense
| when he answered all it's false pretence
as follows: "In reply l have the
honor TO say that my earnest purpose
| while on the bench as chief justice Of
this territory has been to administer
Justice and the laws honestly and
impartially to all men, under the obi
cations of my oath of Office. II the
president of the United States has amy
policy which he desires a judge of the
supreme court to carry out in reference
to Utah affairs, other than the one !
have pursued, you may say TO him
that he has done very we'll to remove
me-"
If the president of the United States
has any other policy than this. what is
1t? Is il to administer the laws other
wise and dishonesty, and in disregard
of the oath of Office?
Judge Sandford can sympathize with
the old negro, who was, while doing it
a kindness, kicked by the son of an ass.
As be picked himself up, contemplated
the treachery of the blow, and felt
of his bruised parts, he calculated =
"Dat's what makes me 'spise a mulel"
So the Judge can say Of the Dachine
that has SO dexterously taken off
his head:-"That's why l hate a liar"
II the machine was thirsting for his
blood, well and good. 1t could take it.
1t had the power. But why not tell
the truth? Why not say: "Here,
Judge Sanford, you are a gentleman
and a scholar, and a good judge, but
you are a democrat. l want your
Office for a republican. I believe that
to the victors belong the spoils. Your
office is part of the swag. Vacste,
please; stand no upon the order OF
your going, but gol"
To such an honest, straightforward,
true as that, free from
hypocrisy and pretense, Judge Sand
ford would have rer lied :-'Certainly ;
take your Office; l am a democrat;
wouldn't be a republican tor six such
offices; jump in, boys, and make the
best of it for four years; for in 1892
we'll fax you out Of your boots, and l
pray to Almighty God that he will
continue to me life and health and
strength that l may be there to help on
the consummation so devoutly TO be
wished"