The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-07

-. a Sharp judicial Reform.
The Hon. MELVILLE WESTON FULLER's
political possibilities have been resting
quietly for some months in the shade of his
superabial foliage. They have been brought
out again. whether with ribald or serious
intention. and they seem to be wringng the
honest heart of Indiana with severe and
genuine pain. Our esteemed but possibly
too lugubrious contemporary. the Lo5dns-
port Journal feels u call to lecture on tho
duty Of the Justices Of the Supreme Court
Of the United States to put away ambition
and content themselves with holding the
scales OF justice with steady hand:
"A Emitted States Supreme Court Julgeship is posi-
tion OF distinguished honor The duration Of the torn
Of Office was rurposely liked with IA view to taxing
away gterns temptations and political ambitions 1t
was intended that an acceptance OF such aJuiseship
should be the end Of active political work ana ambi
ton. that the decisions might not be coorcL When
popular decisions mike Presidents OF Judges there will
be puiar decisions and less law. and the honor
and integrity OF the court will be questioned 1t is bet
to let the members OF the Supreme Court
tent with the great honor the ONCE confe.s and to
discourage any further political ambition. It is GER
tainly not wise to encouraged It." '''' '..
Likewise our esteemed Harrisonian con-
temporary. the Indianapolis journal. APP
proves the sage counsels Of Logansport.
and adds thereto wisdom OF its own:
This Is timely and well said. There il no more
mischievous feature In politics than that which
seems to recognize judicial post stepping stone
to political preferment; and especially Is this true
of Federal Judseshtps which are for life. When q law
yer accepts . place in tue Federal Judiciary. he
should do with the liked purpose Of holding It Mfe
until he is retired under the law. and should put
behind him. ut aud forever. all ideas OF political
preferment Tho Presidential bee should be al
lowed to enter the precincts of Federal cou-: room"
All Of which is true and solemn. but with
out one helpful suggestion for the case OF
Mr.. FULLER. Nobody can do justice to that
singular and interesting case who does not
see that it's peculiar conditions take it at
once out OF formal generalities and classin-
cations. and leave it to be studied and to
be helped. IL any help there is for it. by
more searching and direct analysis. 1t is
unjust to Mr. FULLER to assume that he is
not acquainted with and does not wish to
obey the unwrltten. and it must be added.
largely unobserved. law Of etiquette and
propriety which forbids his sombre gown
to rustic In the winds OF popular favor.
Gifted as he is with well-intentioned il de-
cidedly second-hcad poetic temperament. he
probably feels even more acutely and pas
sionately than the sternest OF his critics
the improperly Of dropping the sword
OF justice and tucking up his gown to so
into free-for-all race for the Presidency
His ardent. romantic. and sensitive
nature must be deeply hurt by his
from tho bench to the stump; and
f,;n III, Ia; t.,
Chicago or Washington who show him his
boom from time to time and bid him make
it hot, are exposing him to more mental
distress than can he lued by the most pa
tient perusal of the most somniferous law
reports. The worshipper of beauty must be
II lover OF proportion, and DESTROYS OF n
well-Ordered and becoming career. Unfor-
tunatcly Mr.. FULLER still unconsciously
allows contradiction to exist between
his personal and his professional code OF
aesthetics. He Is the victim OF that con-
trndicton. and until that is removed it is
almost an insult to him TO read to him COM
monplace homilies about the duty of Judges
to keep out OF politics. He recognizes that
duty. but he Is drawn In Il direction con-
trary to his inclnations by'his inability to
sacrifice or to see the necessity OF sacrifice
ing his pulchritudinous accidents to judicial
essentials. He has not yet fully qualified
as Chief Justice. II he ever should SO
qualify. his yearning for politics will disap-
pear.
Let us suppose the case OF an actor who
has become preacher. II he should still
| continue to wear upon his countenance his
| old adornments from tho grease pot and
the chalk. would not his congregations be
scandalized? Would it not be felt that he
had not yet given up the footlights. or put
himself into harmony with his new sur
roundings The painted face above the
surplice' would be contradiction Of the
solemn work he had undertaken. The Hon.
| CHARLES H. TURNER. the illustrious icemsn
Of this town. put by the steelysrds and the
apron when he took his seat In the House Of
Representatives. We are Justified ia assunl-
| Ing that the Hon. LUCIUs q CINoINnATUs,
the original Farmers Alliance man. pulled
down his togo. and shook the hayseed from
his curly looks. when he was appointed do
tator by snap convention. Even the Hon.
ELIJAH ADAMS AoRsE. N. O.. distant rsls-
| tive Of the ADAMS family Of Massachusetts,.
doesn't pass around cakes Of his stove