The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-12-29
DANGEROUS INDICATIONS.

He is blind to the best interests of our
common country who does not see and
deplore the growing disrespect, espec-
tally in California, for the forms and
offices of law and the retrogression OF
yeneration for the administration of JUS
tice.
1t is not only disturbing, but an
alarming indication. When it has be-
come possible for the public to witness
daily assaults of the most gross. vulgar
and audacious character upon the admin
istrators of the law and not resent these
outrageous and humiliating attacks we
must conclude that there is something
radically wrong in the sentiment the
people entertain towards orderly and free
government
Respect for the forms of law and its adj
ministration upon their lines, and in ac-
cord with the settled policy of wisdom.
lies at the cornerstone of all liberty.
When people can without emotion re-
gard assaults-not criticisms-upon the
law and the offices to which its admins
tration is committed they are in danger
of losing the very protection of law that
enables them to be careless of its enforce
ment.
We select Judges to interpret the law !:
we choose agents to execute it; if, now.
we do not pay due regard to their func-
tons, and while criticising fairly, freely.
boldly all interpretations of the law and
Furnishing by public condemnation and
lawful penalties all failure or avoidance
of duty and all malfeasance under the
law, still frown down all attempts to COW
and browbeat these administrators. we
fail in duty upon the full exercise of
which depends the perpetuity of free in
situations.
Here we have in California the amaz-
ing exhibition of press declaring in so
many words that the ends justify the
means in case now prominently before
the public mind. One of these so-called
opponents of public opinion openly de-
clares that in the case in hand the need
demands an exceptional action and radi-
cal departure by the court from the law
ful method of proceeding to administer
justice and bring offenders to the bar for
trial and to the dock for punishment.
Judges who have, by long lives of vir-
tuous conduct, manly independence, stu
dious devotion and incorruptible duty
doing, builded regulations for upright
ness, learning and fearlessness, are lam
pooned, threatened, condemned and even
menaced with Impeachment if they do
not decide cold issues of law as these pre-
sumptious newspaper critics dictate.
When the Chicago anarchists raised their
heads in the Haymarket they had but one
set Of cries, Down with the law % HStab
the lawr' Away with the courts 2" Not
less vicious, outrageous and anarchial
have been the threats of the newspaper
sensationalists in San Francisco who
have held over the heads of the courts the
club of the press.
Are we forgetting, when we look
calmly upon such procedure, that we are
impressing the generation with the idea
that the law is but for the hour. and that
the courts are created only to reflect the
passion of the moment and respond to
the assumed spasms of virtue that con-
tort metropolitan press2 Are we abso-
lutely blind to the fact that apathy in
the midst of vicious assault upon the
third arm of free government is cultivat-
ing disrespect for age and parental au-
thority, restiveness against the restraints
of order and contempt for the administra-
ton of justice?
The judicial branch is distinct arm of
the Government; it is the barrier and
guard against encroachment by either of
the other branches upon the liberties of
the people. The force of its action de-
ponds upon the respect the people mani
fest for it. When that is not accorded in
due degree; when it is withheld or sup
planted by indifference or contempt, we
begin the approach to anarchy. When
we submit without protest to the preach
ing of the doctrine that it is ever
well to do wrong that good may
come, we begin to undermine the whole
system. A monarch, who has definite
purpose, who sees an end clearly, may
in the absoluteness of his might do i'll
that great good may result; but it is not
possible to consent to such action in a
free government, where there is no rul-
ing power except the object governed,
and not connive at the making of
breaches in the hulwarks of human free
dom.
We have to-day in this free State of a