The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-02-16
rnK srDscrsE CENTENNIAL

Tlse eeaebrssioa IN xew York, 81 ~ 9TH
a The essrrent meath. cf the hundredth
anniversary 81 ne organization Of the
United ttates supreme court. was oue Of
TIE most imposing events ever witnessed
In the Tinted Stairs. Very seldom Ia any
see Or csantry. perhaps never. has thsfs
besn greater congrvsation Of men o. sne
highest fnteIieetaas order.
tn evens has lesi 70 much pardcnabie
tslicitatioa anil . good deal Of Justified
Gtosifieasioa. together with some misstAts-
meats u fact and some fAisincsti0n Of
history. The latter wss not ~ eli nsces-
saYy. for the supreme court - an institution
Of which Americaas may properly feel
proud white confnjng themselves % IN
unembeiiashcd review Of is constitution
and history.
From Grst TO last no branch Of the gov
eminent has 70 uniformly commanded the
respect Of The people. Its decisions never
have been challenged on the ground Of cor
ruptaon nor with wonderfully few exoep-
tions on the ground Of partisanship. In
no other country. during IN equal period
OF time. have the decisions OF the highsst
Judicial tribunal bssn subjected TO 20 little
In the way Of sdverss criticism.
II Is deemsd perfectly safe 70 challenge
tbs worlds entire historic period for .
parallel 70 the unquessioning faith with
which the people Of this country. from
highest to lowest. have accepted every de-
ciston OF that wonderful man. who for
more than one-third Of the courts exist
snce was iss chisf justice John Marshaii's
exposition Of the constitution and laws OF
this country have besn accepted ~ little, II
any, short Of inspired revelations To the
ciearness Of his intellect and TO the purity
and even balance Of his mind. more than
to ali othsr causes combined. Is the court
indebted for the profound respect With
which the American people regard its de-
cisions. And the court. - whole and as
rule. has been able. pure and exem-
plary.
But the ELUSIVE claim that Il II what the
founders of the government intended II
should b.. coordinate branch Of
the government. wholly Independent OF
the executive and legislative departments.
Is an unnecessary fabrication Of fact and
history. Twice. at least. congress has az
ercissd it, power In manner which, II
frequently rspsatsd. would ere long bring
tn court into contempt: once when the
court vas. to Use The phrase Of the day.
sreorgansssd,p but when, in fact.
two members were added TO lie
number for the expsess purpose
Of reversing = decision which was at
varianrs with the IDEAS II . majority in
congress. aud = second time when Eve
members OF the court. selected with direct
reference 10 their known political leanings.
were assigned 70 duties in nowise related
to their Judicial offices. and In which, in
common with the political members OF the
electoral commission. they divided in re-
spsct 10 auestionsof law and fact on strictly
partisan lines. and the questions they were
called IA pass upon decided who for the en-
saing four years should fill the chief ex-
ecutivc Office.
II would seem that by tho press at least
the late anniversary WAS fitting occasion
for calling attention 10 these errors. and
tor sounding . note Of warning against
their repetition. and against any PROPOSE
ton for identifying that great tribunal
with party struggles or differences. The
justices Of that court are hui
man. they are Americans; each has
his political principles and preferences.
bur TO the fullest extent possible they
should while ON tho bench divest them
selves OF par,isanship. With the example
of John Marshall ever before them they
can have no excuse for going astray.