Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-01-01

to use them when he carries them on his
person.
And thus is he the more to be con-
demned for the higher crimes that the
presence Of the pistol contemplates.
1t is needless, however, to multiply
words to show the gravity of offense.
The question nov is, what will be done
Hhontit? Ho,g can we expect the much
neefed respect for law and order among
The common herd while the chief ex-
p9nent and eXemplar of those laws is
heing prosecuted for trampling them
under foot?
How shall the officers of the law have
the spiri' TO prosecute and convict Of
lenders FOR pistol carrying when the
'bie! Jastlce of the court before which
their cases may go for final adjudication
Is himself confessedly guilty of the same
offense?
Is not the spectacle calculated to make
the proceedings OF the criminal courts a
trayesty which will provoke the con.
tempt of all justice loving peopleP
III the Judge wants TO make repara-
ton for the consequences of his rash act !;
If he desires to relieve the Supreme Court
OF the reproach he has brought upon it,
II he wishes to relieve the party of en-
barrassment, if he is anxious to preserye
respect for law and order in Tennessee
and to uphold the reputation of the State
abroad, his best course is to resign his
high office.
We reserve further comments until we
see what course the Judge will take
Chattanooga News
THAT WOULD BE BAD.
Are supreme judges going into the
business of shooting every man who
criticises their decisions?-Clarksyi vile
Leaf Chronicle.
Really the agency most to blame for
the unfortunate affair Is the organ which
would give such communication space
In its columns The State debt question
no longer cuts any figure in State poll
'ics' Beasley's letter was an attempt to
revive an old issue on which he gained a
certain prominence that he has never
since enjoyed. Judge Snodgrass should
have treated it with the contempt it de-
served. The course pursued will serious
ly weaken the respect in which our
higher court has always been held.
when the Supreme Judge of the law
makes himself amenable to it, when the
greatest instrument for the preservation
OF peace resorts to violence as his tribu-
nal, he can no longer command the hon.
or and respect that he formerly did. To
err is human, and when all the circum-
stances are learned much will likely be
developed to excuse the Justices ap-
parently hasty action. At any rate, it is
TO be hoped that this will be the case.
Judge Snodgrass has proven one of the
ablest judges we have ever had, and his
public and private life has always hith. q.
erto been above reproach.-Knoxville
Sentinel.
SHOULD DEMAND FULL PENALTY.
BY his own act in voluntarily submit
ting to arrest Judge Snodgrass ad.
mitted the violation of law, and in justi-
tication of himself should demand that
the full penalty of the law be imposed
upon him, the same as the other viola
tor. In his high position, removed from
the petty broils of every day business on
the streets and in the lower courts,
where such violations are frequent, he
had less cause for anticipating trouble
and less justification, therefore, for car
rying or using weapon at all.-Chatta-
nooga Press.
HE SHOULD RESIGN.
Judge Snodgaass owes it to his State
and to the bench to resign. We say this
with full appreciation of his strong
ability and of his many really lovable
qualities as man. He is warm heart
ed man, Of most kindly and generous
impulses and faithful friend. But his
fierce and ungovernable temper has
hurried him into an act which no feel
ing Of personal friendliness can excuse.
He has brought shame on his judicial
robes and deep reproach upon his State
The bench he has adorned with his tai
ents he has sullied by his couduct. He
must retire from :it.-Memphis.Commer-
cial Appeal.
THEY MIGHT WEAR ARMoR.
Now the Tennessee judges have begun
to shoot, lawyers and laymen will be
more chary of getting in contempt of
them.-Milwaukee Journal.
REFLECTS ON THE COURT.
1t must be distinctly understood that
the Supreme Court of Tennessee will
uphold its dignity if it has to lick every
lawyer at the bar to do it-Chicago
News.
STATE HONOR SHOULD BE UPHELD,
There should be no sentimentality or
political influence brought to bear to e1-
cuse the crime of Chief Justice Snod-
grass. Tennessee can not afford to tenn
porarize when stigma is placed on her
reputation for peace and good will to
men at time when we are bending
every enterprising energy to display
our industries and celebrate the Centen-
NAL of glorious State. We are invit-
ing home seekers to dwell in State
where the head and front of the law
shoots a fellow creature down like the
bravo on the wild West frontier There
is but one monument that towers higher
to our shame, and that is when the Ten
nessee Legislature robbed the ballot
box. We were hoping to outlive that; |;
how shall we cleanse the blood prints
from the judicial robe? There is only one
reparation out of which can come grain
of comfort or make particle of atone
ment Judge Snodgrass should show
the decency to resign and the law should
lniiict the penalty without respect of