The morning call., 1892-01-06


Chairman Phean then introduced Rev.
DR.. T. Chalmers Easton as a clergyman
who during his several years residence in
San Francisco had endeared himself to all
lovers Of truth. honesty aud good govern
ment by fis fearless condemnation OF
wrong and his championship OF the cause of
the oppressed.
Dr. Easton. who was received with loud
applause spoke as follows:
&c lemen and FellOW-citiZens: As | un-
derstand it, we are assembled here this
evening in the interests of pure judiciary.
There Is no read more pressing at the pres
ent time than that of judicial incorrupti-
biity. a question that towers over all
others at the present and demanding recog-
milton and solution with the rapid increase
of population and the growth OF q great
metropolitan center-a question involving
more subtle principles and more vitality
relative 10 government and civilization was
never before confronted as it eOnfrOnts us
tonight, namely, the pure administration
of justice 1t is question that may never
plunge us as a nation into war, but it
may plunge US into something Tar worse
than war that which has been
so perfectly portrayed in Caesars column
the horrors OF anarchy. The question be-
fore the age and the country, but especially
here in this goodly commonwealth and in
this city, is: Shall the judiciary be elevated
to dignity, independence and incorruptibiIty
of an bipartisan election OF Judges, or
shall an insignificant puppet insist upon
partisan expression of the peoples choice.
and thus degrade the high Office to a political
sInecure and convert the Judiciary into a
corrupt machine 20 serve the interest and
purpose of politicians? Ii there is an In
stitutiou Of free government that should
stand high above the clutch and the control
of politics it is the judiciary. An unparti-
san judiciary alone can be absolutely indie
pendent and incoTruptible, such as the
GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
And any partisan attempt to destroy its in
dependence and the purity of the judiciary
is a menace to the peace OF this gOodly city,
to the rights of our citizens and the security
of the Government. The genius of our Gov
eminent is such that the judiciary is a
divine institution, and hence il is that both
my friend DR.. Stebbins and myself feel that
we are not out OF place at all upon this plat
form. For, when we 90 back to the laws
given to Moses we read, Thou shalt Judge
the people with just judgment. Thou shalt
not wrest judgment, neither take a gift, Tor
n gift doth blind the eyes of the wise and
prevent the words of righteousness" IL
language means anything at ALL then
most assuredly we are taught that the
prosperity of State, the stability
of a nation, are conditioned on the nteg-
rity the impartiality and the purity of our
Judges. The question arises if we have
such a judiciary at the present time. IL
there has not been bribe-recelving between
our politicians and the men clothed in
ermine. then why is it that some are fugi-
tives from their own land tonight, and
made such hasty flight when Wallace the
just, the upright, the unimpeaehable ana
incorruptible Judge, selected the last Grand
Jury? Where is Chris Buckley and his
killings tonight 1t may be said of them
their country for their country's good"
May they never return until they are made