The sun., 1896-10-09
National Politics and tho Judiciary.

A popularity of the approaching election
in this State is the large number of Judges
to be chosen in the Second Judicial dis
trict, comprising Long Island, Staten Isl
and. and the rural counties on the lower
part of the Hudson River. In that district
the terms Of four Justices Of the Supreme
Court will expire with the present
year, and consequently four new JUS
tices must be elected. Brooklyn is the
chief city in the district, and there the
greatest interest is manifested In the re-
spective judiciary tickets.
Instead of nominating the Democratic
Judges whose terms are about to expire,
which they ought to have done under the
circumstances, the Republicans put n
straight Republican ticket in the field. The
Democratic Convention by large majority
voted down a resolution against nominating
any one who was not in sympathy with the
Chicago candidates, and then named JUS
tices BROWN and CLEMENT to succeed them
selves, and Judge STEPHENS of Richmond
county and Mr.. THOMAS S. MOORE Of Brook
lyn to fill the other two places. The sound
money Democrats also nominated these
same gentlemen.
Judge BROWN and Judge CLEMENT, how
ever, have declined the nominations. II
cannot support the candidates nominated
ut the Chicago Convention" writes Judge
BROWN. "nor give my adherence to the po-
litical principles set forth in the platform
adopted by that body" Judge CLEMENT
takes substantially the same position.
Entertaining these sentiments. they were
bound to refuse the nomination of the
Democratic Convention, il the acceptance
of that nomination involved an approval on
their part of the Chicago platform or an
undertaking to support the Chicago nom-
inees. The radical silverite element in
Brooklyn insisted that it did, and that no
one could properly run for Judge on the
Democratic ticket unless he proposed to
vote for BRYAN and SEwALL. The conser-
vative element in the party objected to any
such test. and prevented the Judiciary Con-
vention from exacting any pledge from the
candidates. 1t seems to have been the view
of Mr.. HUGH MCLAUGHLIN and those who
supported him in this movement that men
who differed about what was done at Chi
cago in the name of the Democracy ought
still to be able to work together to keep
good Democrats upon the bench.
1t is greatly to be regretted that the re-
quisite harmony has proved unattainable.
The silverites clamor for Bryanite Judges,
and to such All extent that men like Judge
BROWN feel that it would be dishonorable
to accept their support as a candidate of
their faction. Indeed. like many thousands
of sterling Democrats all over the country,
Judge BROWN has announced his intention
of voting for the MCKINLEY electors
His decision is only natural when we con-
slider the remarkable attitude of Mr.. BRYAN
toward the judiciary. Mr.. BRYAN would
degrade the bench to the level of political
machine. He would pack the Supreme
Court to control the determination of par
ticular questions; and he would deprive the
Federal Judges of their power to enforce
the Federal laws against Populistic vio-
lence. No man fit to be Judge of any
court anywhere can possibly approve Mr..
BRYAN's sentiments on these subjects; and
Judge BROWN has made it clear that he de-
tests such doctrines, and will not tolerate
any association of his good name with those
who profess them.