The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-01

A Needed Rebul<e.
Judge MARITIME spoke In the interest OF
Inv. justice. and public order and decency
when on Wednesday he rebuked the noto-
rious preacher. DIXON. for his blackguard
assault on the Grand Jury. simply because.
In pursuance OF its sworn duty. 1t had in
dicted him for libel.
Out of Difference to tho preachers profess
sion. tho Grand Jury permitted DIXON to
come into its room and make On explana-
ton In his own behalf. It was a special
privilege conferred. not legal obli-
CATION fulfilled; yet in his last Sun
days sermon the blatherskite preacher
insultcd and vlifled tho Grand Jury
because OF its very consideration for
him. Because tho foreman rightly. prop
erly. and necessarily "drew tho line Mt
any evidence In justification or excuse OF
the alleged libel. he charged him with being
"a Tammany hcelor." and said that tho
complaint OF libel was shot like lightning
through the District Attorneys office into
the itching palms Of Tammany foreman"
This Grand Jury found 1872 indictments.
yet o; them all none Is thus assailed except
that against this preacher. and he. tho in
dicted. is himself the assailant. An accused
criminal is usually critical OF the processes
OF the law. but generally he is obliged to do
his railing against justice in private.
DIXON. however. has pulpit from
which to vent his spite and his malice.
and his voice is loud and his tongue is
long. Unable to answer the charge against
him so as to prevent his indictment, he
turns to Safeguarding the foreman OF the
u i,l, III 20
petit jury for trial.
He borrows his method Of assault from
tho Mugwump newspapers. He Whites
the foreman of the Grand Jury. Mr.. FRANCIS
HIGGINS a highly reputable gentleman and
praiseworthy citizen. on tho simple
ground that he Is Democrat faithful to
his political convictions and exemplary in
his devotion to his political duty. He de-
nounced him as "a Tammany heeler.'
In New York two-thirds OF the citizens
are Democrats. and as q probable conse-
quence Democrats may be in the majority
on the Grand Jury list. They arc not &C.
lected with any reference to their politics.
but, as n matter Of course In Democratic
New York. more Democrats than Rcpub-
leans or Mugwumps are likely to BIO on
that roll. Prominent and substantial Dem
ocruts. such as those desirable for the Grand
Jury, are also likely to DO concerned in
the management OF their party. They arc
the men to whom the party turns for saga
cious coupsels and substantial help. the
able. conscientious. and public-spir1ted Cit
zens who arc faithful to their public duties
and competent for them. whether III tho
organization OF their party. at elections. or
In tho assistance OF law and justice. Be-
cause of this honorable distinction they are
recognized as peculiarly qualified for tho
high and responsible Office and function of
tho Grand Inquest.
Yet this blackguard DIXON insults and
abuses Mr.. HIGGINS simply because
no belongs to body OF citizens SO
honorable and so respected. He talks
rs II it were un iniamy to be concerned
In the great and admirable Demo-
cratic organization OF New York. Like the
Mugwump EreninD Post and New York
Times. no classes every Tammany man
with the low and vile and criminal. Every
earnest and useful Democrat is disrepu-
table character. according to this Mug
wump preacher and indicted libellcr.
Ho speaks as II 1t wcro IN outrage for
a Tammany man to DO selected for service
on tho Grand Jury. and an infamous pro-
cecding for Judge OF the Court OF General
Sessions to appoint him as It's foreman, as
Mr.. HIGGINS was appointed.
Judge MARITIME. therefore. only defended
the dignity OF citizenship and proclaimed
tho freedom OF political opinion when no re-
buked such insolence. He praised tho
Grand Jury. 30 UNANIMOUSLY assaulted by this
blathcrskite preacher. saying that 1t had
been distinguished for Its diligence. Its
| Justice. and Its wisdom. "You aro Il body
Of grand jurors" he declared in Diminishing
them at tho end Of their appointed term
"of which this city may well be proud"
1t Is time that this abuse of tho Democ-
racy and OF honorable men and faithful
| public officers simply because they are
! Democrats OF tho Democratic Organization,
should be rcbuked by tho bench, MS it has
been rebuked SO often by the Democratic
people. In tho Muswump vocabulary Tam
many may be IN opprobrious epithet but
it is n name OF honor and OF triumph In tho
| Democratic Technology and estimation.
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