The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1895-06-06

Gov. ALIIELD of Illinois Is out in a
grsd article in which he severely critI-
cises the supreme court of the United
States for its decision IN the Debs' case,
4na incidentally for the income tax
decision. The governors language is
almost violent. 1t certainly is unfortu-
ua,e that Debs' punishment should come
rs 1t has by the arbitrary exercise OF
po9er granted judges to preserve the
Lightly OF their position. Without this
J5wer to punish for contempt, judges
and LAWYERS. on account of the nature of
h,ir duties, would be ever subject TO IN
sulU and often TO assault. The defeated
party ia litigation never takes kindly 10
tue adverse verdict or decision, and his
anger includes the parties instrumental
u the result.
The power to punish for contempt, no
doubt. grew ont Of necessity and vas de-
signed to facilitate the adjudication OF
cases and to secure immunity for those,
who in the honest discharge OF duties
imp0sed upon them for the public good,
could not fail to provoke resentment.
The danger OF the powers being abused
Is much less than the danger incident TO
/ the progress of justice should this power
be denied courts
1t is human nature for those 10 whom
| certain powers are vested to enlarge
/ THAR scope with opportunity. This has
| oeen done by courts with the power to
punish for contempt. When the fact is
| patent, the punishment should be instant
and without the Intervention OF any
| other agency. But ID Debs' case the
| Judge knew OF the contempt only from
hearsay. Every interest OF justice would
| be subserved, and the dignity OF the court
preserved fully as we'll If jury had de-
| cided that Debs was guilty. The Pilot
| believes he was, but belief Is not proof.
IF laymun can distinguish between a
| principle of judicial science and the ex-
tension OF any feature OF it so that 1t en-
| dangers the existence of safegard for
the protection of al individual right, a
| lawyer should be still more prompt in
recognizing the distinction. Altgelds
TRADE is not only unprofesslonal and
| discourteous, but furnishes I'D exem-
pIltication of the contempt which made
1t expedient to have some means oil
checking such attacks. 1t should not be
deemed the privilege of any one to abuse
a cJurt because a decision is rendered
which does not meet his approval. There
! is far more danger to the public good IN
disseminating ideas Of disrespect for
courts than there is of any usurpat1on of
power by courts, and this every lawyer
should know.
Charges of corruption and of subser-
viency TO corporations are easily made.
Just at present these charges are safe
passport to the peoples favor. 1t is much
safer to assume that Mr., Altgeld is
playing the demagogue for his own per-
sonal ends than that the supreme court
OF the United States are the tools of
CORPORATIONS. Those who attain distinc-
ton in the legal profession sufficient to
justify their elevation to the supreme
court of the United States, have been
broadened by their work. The study OF
the law Is liberallzing and a man
naturally corrupt is made honest by it
One would hardly think of briblng a
great lawyer; much less would he think
of doing so if that lawyer was also great
judge.
There is no denying the fact that the
power which judges are exercising is be-
coming dangerous. But this fact does
not justify the destruction of our whole
judicial system Ikis We do when We
destroy confidence in the integrity OF
those who administer it's affairs,