Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-10-04

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Euiefsd VI the Post Ohlce in Milford Doi'' az
second class matter
IT is said with an air of certainty
that the Chancellor is soon to resign
his high office which he has filed
with dignity and conspicuous ability
and fairness. 1t is further said that
the Governor will place John r.
Nicholson in the vacant chair of the
CHARACTERISTIC. This would be an
appointment creditable alike to the
Executive and State. Mr.. Nichol-
son has long enjoyed the esteem OF
those who know him as an honest,
upright learned gentleman.
If these changes should take place
there would occur a vacancy in the
office of Attorney General This
position in the main has been filed
creditably in the past history of the
State and in few cases notably so
In view Of the uncertainty of the APP
pointee whom the Governor may Sc
lect,it is not amiss to recall the dig
nifty of the office and to estimate
some of its requirements.
The Attorney General is the chief
prosecutor of all offences committed
against the peace and dignity of the
State. The incumbentis the embod-
iment of the spirit of our statutes
against criminality in all of its
forms. He represents in his person
Justice, honesty. truth and law-adid-
ingness. His personality goes long
way in fostering their essential vir-
tues among the people and thus Sc
curing domestic and civil happiness.
1t is the most responsible office
underour Constitution; there is none
greater estimated by the gravity of
its functions. The incumbent ofsuch
an official position in addition to the
necessary professional ability to dis
charge the duties inseparable from
it should be man Of clean, sterling
character; no trickster, no specious
plausible trimmer of conscience. His
integrity, ineorruptibility and hon
esty should be unquestioned, should
never have been questioned. He
should be one who has never forfeited
the public esteem by shady and GRIM
inal acts. In the often great pres
sure of conflicting and bitter issues
that arise from domestic and civil
crime his past and present reputa-
ton should be such that no man
would dare to suggest a proposition
Of compromise or seek a nolle pros
equ5 on basis of bribery Or any
corrupt consideration. No citizen
indicted for any criminal act should
be able to stand before an Attorney
General of this State and say "You
are as great rascal as l am" and
say it with such accuracy that com
mon knowledge would respond in
our assembled courts of justice cit
is true" Public Office should be q
public trust and no man who has be-
trayed his private or professional
trusts should be appointed to dis
honor a high public position No
one at this juncture, when the eyes
of the people are fixed upon a con
stitutional convention, should be APP
pointed to an office for which under
other conditions he could not secure
a nomination and election; whose
life is such that it could not fear the
scrutiny of an election campaign.
Applicants for such positions are
often recommended through preser-
walton, or better perversion, of pro-
fessional ethics, lawyer, bound to
another bv utilization. Political con-
siderations too enter into such APP
pointments and recommendations
selfinterest or Indifference, a lack of
moral courage upon the part Of those
approached influence an endorse
ment of men for public office whom
from actual knowledge the petitioner
would not entrust with his own
affairs. The standard of high per
sonal character, if not required by
the legal profession in such cases
should be insisted upon by the PEG
pie. We hope the Governor,if called
upon to fill vacancy in this posi-
tion,will select not only an able law
yer but man of known honor, rec.
titude and unblemished character as
well.
GOVERNOR CULBEnsoN has adj
-t.,,,.,. ,,,oee,rro 70 tho