The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1895-06-13
PROVO CITY.
JUDGE MERRITT.

The above gentleman was very Sc
yerely criticised the other day for his
deciHion in the case of the o. p. re-
celvership. 1t is true that in this
country discussion of the acts of an
official is very free. Great latitude is
allowed in every case, but we fully be-
Iieve in some cases this privilege is
carried too far, and liberty of discus
sion often becomes license. Particu-
larly in the case of our courts and
Judges is the safety line often passed.
our judges are Of our own creatlon,it is
true, but this fact does not warrant us
in going to an extent where there
is danger of destroying the common
respect for and confidence in our
courts. Judge Merritt's decision
raised very hurricane of disapproval.
Men, the staidest and coolest, became
raving mad and talked about purchase
and all that kind of thing. Now moth
ing but the strongest and clearest evil
dence could ever make US believe that
Judge Merritt could be swayed one
hairs breadth from the right by any
sort of earthly means. 1t is dangerous
and subversiYe of the public respect
for law and it's authority to make
charges such as were made in Salt
Lake against Judge Merritt-even
anger is no justification. When men
get angry they must be taught to keep
civil tongues, only, in their heads, es-
pecially when speaking of the judges of
our courts in the discharge of their
plain duty. 1t is true this decision
disobliged great many people, and
we felt that it would have been
better for the people had it gone
the other way, but our highest legal
tribunal had spoken and we had moth
ing to say.
There was once time in the history
of this country when the judges OF our
courts were dressed in the long black
robes and square ''chokers," such as
the early pictures of John Rogers ex-
hibited, and on the way to and from
the halls of justice, the judge was
preceded by a court officer in official
dress and with drawn sword. This
efgsA sA''lIs lfIs6gbsd Sb1seA It out OF use. Today
the spectacle would be laughed at un-
mercifully and rightly, but in
those days respect tor law was
general and the persons of our
law officers were sacred and safe
under any and all circumstances. The
levity of these days is attended by too
much disrespect ana disregard for law
to the endsngering of justice. We can
hardly throw 'ronnd our courts too
much dignity and respect, to the end
that the sacred principles of justice be
upheld by their decisions,
We do not care to discuss the merits
of the case under consideration. We
have nothing.to do with that, but the |
insulting treatment of Judge Merritt is |
another thing. 1t is only fair that we |
credit him with as much honesty in the |
course he took as we claim for our.
selves. Anything less than this is un-
Just and leads to error. We do not be-
lieve the Union Pacific railway ever
had money enough in its Golfers to
buy Judge Merritt, and to charge him
with having been bought. or having
sold out, is false and cruel beyond
measure. If there is sufficient evil
denoe upon which to base such a
charge there is enough to warrant inn
peachment, and we would be the last
to shield him if he were proven guilty.
We insist that until he is go proven
guilty it is the duty of every good citi-
zen to rally to his defense. We Ameri-
cans are too hasty and bring the gray
est charges upon too little evidence.
The angry men of Salt Lake will have
ample time to inquire into this case. {
Let them do so, and if the facts are !
uficient let them bring impeachment s
if not, their own [self-re- S
pect should teach them the impro- a
,riety Of the language they used re, L
.arding a faithful man and an honest I
udge. There is higher principle in !
his case than the simple advantage of :
! rival railway, and good citizens
hould 60 rather for this than such in
crest. We trust to see the manners of
ne Salt Lake people speedily amended
n such things.