Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-07
Tho DAYS Of Federalism Revived.

To the Editor Of the Dispdtch;
our uJlctal Caesars, small and great, arc
manIfes,ing an appetite tor meat upon which II
they are allowed 10 iced we shalt have need Tor
fresh development. Of the DEMOCRACY Of l79s'
80.
Recently Federal Judge in Ohio denied at
f,rsi the right Of the employees OF n railroad TO
Quit whom they plcased. though not pretending
10 deny the right and power o. ;he railway COM
pauy TO discharge whom and when II pleased.
soper reflection seems 70 have cured this yagary.
rs his anal decision was to tho opposite ehect'
Ito was wise enough TO think twice.
Judge ID. 7. Brooke, o, the Corporation Court
OF NortolK. has proceeded lately 10 treat as a
"cOnlempt OF court" tho uttsrsBGa ~ the Nor
folk TfFgsai1H bY its city editor of The opihlOh
that transferring lie cnscs Tor ssuing hqdor'
which had been revoked Tor vlOleilore OF the law,
10 fri an Is OF the Offending sellers was h1cus-
pocus Arrangement not understood by the ave-
rage citizen
The city editors language was not choice and
perhaps not prudent. 10 does not nc essailiy
imply en- .Inpuguing Of the Judgc5 motives, AZ
though "his Honor c0ul0 not, rs lac saiI IN
court. see now any one acquainted Win the eng
ltsh l8ugu02e could tnink otherwise Inc writer
claims To know as much OF bnglsh IA JHuso
BrooSe, but soes no necessity OF Interpretation
TO that effec:. The hocts pOcUS IL the IugGier )
part and the jucClcrs in this case were tne
iiQuOI- feaicro. Iue mOSt the lNnSuu@c coutu
mean was that the Judge was the vlcliIn OF u
trick on the part OF those sharpers. But all thls
aside, u every criticism 81 the action OF courts
made by Newspapers which may possibly pear
the constru ctiOh oil renecang ul on the Iudg9
motives rs 10 be con idercd " contempt OF cOuri,
"a II UeTpetrated IN the presence oi the rlbu-
nal, and punishable by nne AMI imprisonment
at the direction u the offended autpcrGt, the
liberty Oh the press. the personal so'uFi1y OF the
citizen, and the freedom OF the people to arraisn
ut tho bar Of pubic opinion the acts OF all tneir
officials viii mos amount co row OF pins.
IL may be that in the multitude OIL "deci-
s!Ons made by courts IN Eagland. aud even IN
this country. sOmo color Of excuse may De louhd
for stretching this dangerous and irresponsiDle
power OF punching contempt so ~ 10 reach
persons within tho presence OF the court Dut
there should 10 the greatest Jealousy OF lts eN-
crc,se under such circumstances. Newspaper
comments, even the most uniuendly and unjust,
- not impede or oUstruct Me action OF courts or
Cav. or threaten tho lie, safety, or peace OF any
judge, or disturb tie dccofuw, dignity or uah-
quillty OF the judicial proceeding.
II the Judge be thc man lie should be- man
OF high tone and high standing-he can well
afford 10 suffer fis acts To rest FOR thelf Vlhdlch-
ton upon his reputation n man IN nc c9NI-
muniiy and upon The facts Of the particular case
And II he proposes 20 avcnge n personal anrOnt,
as his language 20 the city editor IN court lndl-
cates (Which would certainly have PROVOKED IN
the streets a breach OF the peace, let nun 90 u
Us a brave man and a gentleman "a lar neiG.
To empoy Tor this purpose tue power o. process
Of law administered by himself, withcu PRIV
leCe on the part Of the alleged offender 70 AZ
swer before al impartial tribunal, is oppression
intOlerabie among any free people ana ought 10
be ground Of Impeachment
The city editor Of the lirglnfdn ought 10 have
refused 10 answer the rule and al oHcd hiinsalt
10 90 to Jail getting reiiei by babeas corpus be-
fore either q nltci States or state court Tor
the Constitutions Of both Virginia and the
PAUL WHITEHEAD.