New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-15
4 SNARE FOR JUSTICE

The satisfaction with which his subjects hear
that their ruler is opposed to the unSayory
Harvey claim against the city is tempered by
the announcement that he sees no reason why
his Police Justices should not practise law
when they are of the bench. "Why shouldn't
they ?" he asks with a mild and benevolent in
Election of the voice, and official echo an
swcrs. "Why shouldn't they? Well. the
reason why all but two of them shouldn't is
that they would be thrown ont of court il they
attempted to. naSmuch as they have never
been admitted TO the bar, ard have no more
knowledge of law than a gopher has Of
quatcrnions or the syllable augment. One OF
the two exceptions doesn't care about clients
and fees. but the other longs for them covct-
ously. Thomas +. Grady, formerly known as
the svcr-tongued enc OF the enemies for whom
Mr.. Grover Cleveland is loved by General
Bragg, is the sole beneficiary of the measure
which Croker commcnds. 1t was framed and
passed for his benefit and when it goes into
operation it will undoubtedly fill his pockets.
To adopt Mr.. Cookers intcrroGatory method
of affirmation, Why shouldn't it?
Justice Grady sits on the bench an hour OF
two a day. for about half the year, and awards
JOY or sorrow, as the case may be, TO oil who
come before him. Some of these are without
friends or resources, but many Of them are
lich in that saving common-scnSe which pro
vdeS against emergencies. And so when they
appear at the scat of Judgment they are suS-
tanned by an Tnfaltcring trust in the efficacy
of those invisible and mysterious agencies OF
righteousness which the rrofanc call "pulls.'
They know that their Judge is without fear or
reproach, but they rejoice to think that even
his p rccptionS may be clarified by communion
with higher powers. On the other hand, the
messengers of Tammany Hail. who are always
running hithcr and thithcr on bcneficcnt er-
randS pcrcciving that the DEGREES Of the court
coincide with their own ideas OF justice. love
to cherish the dclusion that they have helped
10 vindc1tc the innocent: and as they con-
template the author Of their satisfaction they
feel glow of gratitude and an ardent desire
to rccompcnSc such virtue with retaining fees.
If Justice Grady were not the austcrc and
impcccable man that he is the existence of such
relations ard sentiments would inevitably dis
turb his Judgment and by slow degrees de-
moIaliZe his conscience. He would see IN
every prosperous violalOr Of the law or victim
of oppression who WAS led before him. and in
every friend OF the accused who approached
his bar, prospective client. Justice would
take the bandagc OF her eyes and proceed To
make the most odiouS determinations, and the
Recording Angel would have To employ another
typewriter But even considering who and
what he is ought Justice Grady 10 be subject
cd 10 such temptations? II il were necessary
TO put his virtue to such test we should not
say word. but obviously it isn't. For labors
which, though s,pcrlatiyc Of their kind. con
sumo only small portion Of his time he rc-
ccivcs sal1Iy Of 5000. Certainly this is an
absolute guarantee against hunger, thirst and
nalledncss and il he desires 10 provide him
self with luyuries which would tend 10 impair
rather than increase his value to the com
munty, and which, AT any rate. are not essen
tial to the dignity Of the bench. there are
numerous avenues Of acquisition open 10 him.
Why, then should he prefer the ono which is
most bcset with dangers? We implore him
to refuse the bait which Satan offers.