Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-08-13
LANCASTER, PA, August 10, 1889.
The Vacancy On the supreme Bench.

Mr.. Harrison has now an opportunity
of showing the people of the United
States that in one particular he Is
broad, intelligent aud wise executive.
There exists vacancy on the supreme
bench of the United States and under
the constitution aud the law Mr. Har-
rison, by and with the advice of the Sen
ate, is to appoint man TO till II. The
appointments to Office Ivy the present
administration have for the most part
met with little public favor. OF course
there are notable exceptions and some
cf the home aud foreign offices are cred
itably filed
There are not many, If any, Offices In
the gift Of the president which equal in
importance and responsibility that
which he is now about TO fill The Sc
\ curity of our constitution and national
rights and treaties are entrusted in d
neasure TO the supreme court, and in
X times of national disaster and war our
country's safeguard and bulwark are
found in the purity integrity and wisdom
Y Of our national court of iudicaturc. y
& Marshall q Jay and fancy have shed
!, lustre on that court, and their upright
& lives and judicial purity and wisdom
have helped to make our national char
eectey great and strong.
Vieport be true il looks very much rs
il the president were about to make q
very bad appointment When w. "
VI. Miller was appointed to the office Of
attorney general everybody laughed at
the sudden elevation Of an unknown
lawyer from indianapolis 1t was con.
ceded, however, that Mr. Harrison had
right TO make up his own family OF
advisers, and the sentiment which made
him cling to his old law partner was
tacitly understood TO be an admission OF
z weakness and lack of self-reliance on the
part of the new executive. But when
that feeling of personal regard goes
to such all extent that II would eie
vate the unknown Miller To seat
on the supreme bench then 1t is time I,
call halt EX President Cleveland
wisely and broadly disregarded all the
claims Of friendship or fef*bwship, when
he filed the office of chief justice of tho
supreme court With discretion that
came from ripe estaiesmansbip he selected
Mr.. Fuller, who had proved his fitness
for the position by the emincncc lac had
gained in his chosen profession in the
city of Chicago. He was bc,et on al
sides by friends who would have mislcd
him into grieyous error, but with th,
y clear eye and firm heart 50 peculiarly
his, he made an appointment which
while il chagrincd some of his ueares
advisers, met with the approval of In,
people Of the United States.
The appointment of Attorney Genera
Miller would cast a stigma on the prrsen
administration il would bc difficult, 4
remove. Mr.. Miller may be II goo,
lawyer. Nothing has rs yet o,
CURED in the attorney generals dt
partment 10 test his legal ability. Bu
y the main objection ia to the principl
which allows such offices as suprcnl
judgcships TO he given to personal friendt
either az Il reward of personal service q
out of pure friendship and regard Nj
Miller has not proved his fitness for ia
Office and for that reason his appoint
3 ment would be an experiment Mr. Hai
rison has no right To make. We hav
no doubt there are several lawyers il
every city of 900 people in the unio
who are just as capable as the preseu
attorney general. Indeed there an
many reasons why Mr.Miller should nc
I've appointed aud there are actual
none which call for his elevation TO III
present vacancy. What reason coul
Mr.. Harrison give to the senate, if tia
body refuse to confirm this appointment
He could only make u personal plea &,
bis friend and one time partner in ia
law.
Mr.. Harrison had better take the nd
vice Of his best friends in this matter
and those who are most concerned i
his political prosperity will do well {
dissuade him from this appointment
The love and affection for his friend an
partner are strong woe to him if he yicl
tothese To the detriment and harm of hi
country's honor and welfare Wors
indeed in the minds of the intolIigel
people of the country would this disaI
pointment be than having Blaine Sc,
retary of state aud a Tanner commi
sioner of pensions. These latter will D.
of short duration, the former a lifrtm,
Ii Il 10 he hoped that for once Mr. Ha
rison will display some wisdom an
nerve and evidence at least his good il
tention 10 serve the best interests of II
people and avoid the appointment
his attorney general TO The suprcm
bench.