New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-23
TROTBLE IN CONNECTICUT.

We regret TO observe that Governor Morris
of Connecticut has struck a snag. Ills nom
nation of Professor Simeon f. Baldwin as
Judge of the Supreme Court has not only failed
10 arouse the enthusiasm of the Democratic
masses but has even created dissatisfaction
in the ranks. which has found expression III
the Legislature, where, on the motion Oh one
of the Democratic leaders, of whom there are
several i'm the House, it has been hung up pend
ING negotiations between the Governor ana the
leaders on the subject Complaint is made by
the Democratic leaders that Professor BALDWIN
is not old enough in the party, that he IS
Mugwump rather than a Democrat, and what
is worse, that he is very dferent sort OF
man from what the Connecticut Democrats eA-
pected to see appointed to office when they
rose up and carried the State for Governor
Morris. They manifested great fOndnesssfor
the Professor when he was Oh the stump. W hen
as president of the Monticello Club he unbent
himself and INDUCED in pleasantly they broke
ont in yociferous merriment and almost slapped
him on the back in hilarious appreciation. Oh
two or three occasions he enlvened Democratic
festive gatherings with bursts OF humor that
made his hearers almost forget for moment
that thoy were living under the abomlnable
abuses of an effcte Constitution, and the grind
ING impositions of an inqutOus tariff. Ray
fitness was not his wont, but when he stlayed
into it in a casual and unprecedented way he
won all hearts. Democrats of lively DISPOSE
ton went so far on these occasions as TO say
that. after all, he was pretty good 1elIow
Their applause was all the more hearty ana
sincere from the conviction generally enter
tanned that he stood in nobody'S way that he
didn't want ANYTHING, and if he did he couldn't
get it.
His unexpected nomination for Judge OF the
Supreme Court seems to have changed the
current of Democratic opinion. No objection
is raised to him on the score OF ability, or
learning, or the judicial quality of his mind.
His position as professor in the Law ochooi
of Yale University, his standing at the BAR
his reputation as lawyer, which Is not by any
means limited to his own State, and his eX-
tensve professional practice are sulncieht
certificate of his qualifications for the highest
judicial position. But though Governor Morris
NAV have had these things i'll mind in max
ing the appointment, other and more potent
considerations seem TO influence the minds ana
affect the action of the Democratic leaders
Complaint is made that the manners OF the
Professor are too austere. that he is cold ana
distant. and not. as the French scholars in the
LEGISLATURE say. en- rapport" with the masses
II is believed at Warehouse Point that he
yvould not be able to distinguish between the
smooth and innocuous gin for which the dis
tilleries of that locality are so justly celcbrat-
ed and the ordinary kerosene in common use
for Illuminating purposes. In Litchheid Couh-
tv. where the constant use through the winter
months of a home product OF cider brandy puts
whole communities into state OF mental ten
sion that is only relieved by general IN
diligence in homicide in the spring, 1t Is more
than suspected that the Professor doesn't know
the difference between applejack and root beer.
Even in his own town of Ncw-Ilaven many OF
tho most influential bark keepers who have
charge of local politics complain that they never
saw the color of his money nor heard him
" ask the BOYS what they'd have"
These are serious objections, TO be sure.
Especially so when 1t is considered that the
Democrats who have been appointed TO judi
cial positions by Republican Governors and
Legislatures have been pretty much OF the Pro-
fessOr's stamp, and not by any means the
typical Democrats preferred by the party man
ayers 1t must be great disappointment TO
the party managers to have Governor Morris
start off in this way They did not expect it.
For him to appoint a man Judge of the Su-
premo Court simply because he knows some
law and has judicial mind seems to them
absurd They have the same objection to it
that the Massachusetts churchman had to a
clergyman who was a candidate for Bishop.
"Oho said he, "hes too ungody piOns." III
Governor Morris decides to withdraw the name
of Professor Baldwin in Difference to the party
leaders, he will do well to give them either
barkeeper or a dancing master.