The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-09-04

its revelation of the lightness OF the man
and the revolutionary tendencies OF Nls
mind Take for example what he says
about the Federal judiciary:
The present method Of selecting FED
eral judges IS wrong. Nearly an the
States elect the judges who preside over
State courts ami md no difficulty IN
securing competent officials Nhen
judge IS elected Tor limited term ne
can be reelected n his conduct T. such
as 10 merit II, but judge appointed Tor
ITO can only with great difficulty be de-
posed. no matter how unsatisfactory ne
may prove. A President. who generally
appoints upon the accommodation OF
few members OF the dominant party,
cannot choose as inteligently as the
people themselves, and the power 10 de-
pose by a refusal 10 re-eect Is an eSsen-
tial restraint. even upon Judge All
human beings, 70 greater or less tA-
tent. acquire a certain bias from assocla-
ticn and environment, ana on the great
questions which divide society mat Dias
uncOnsciOusly influences the mind or the
judge. Life positions are apt 10 breed
Indifference in the public servant no
matter in what position he Is placed.
IL will be observed that this goes inuch
further than the Chicago platform, upon
which Mr.. Bryan was nominated. Inc
re. oiution In regard 10 tenure or once
which was adopted az Chicago Id non de-
mand an elective judiciary or specify
limited term OF Office for Federal judges.
Ii merely declared IN a general way The
party's opposition ITO life tenure IN tho
public service After the convention "
was perceived that this plank Included
the Federal judges whose terms of ONCE
are life terms, as provided m the Consu-
tuition. The mar ayers OF Mr.. Bryans
canvass, therefore, took fright Al the
sweeping character OF the resolution, ana
attempted TO prove by the oiilclal stenO-
grapher that Mr.. Hiils amendment, ex-
cepting cases defined by the Constitution,
had passed the convention. Instead OF hay
ing been lost, as WAS actually the case.
There was for time a good deal OF Jug
glory with tho record, and some lying
about what the minutes showed. al un-
dertdken in the interest Of Mr.. iiryan
and In order 10 represent him a. no iespe-
rate or revolutionary assailant OF the
existing judicial system. But the trouble
and the mencacity We're all wasted, for
only a few weeks before the Chicago Con-
ventiOn Mr. Bryan had calmly put nin-
self on record, In this article IN the Ne
braska Literary Magazine. as denOuncins
specifically the life tenure OF the justices
OF the Supreme Court. and demanding
that they DO subject 10 deposition by the
vote or the people. lie would Ike to have
the Supreme Court so constituted that its
members should be within reach OF pun
ishment by the popular vote. in case they
ever antagonized the will of the majority
OF voters on any OF the great questions
which divide society"
There has been no clearer exhibition of
Mr. Pryan's readiness 10 destroy the last
hulwark OF our institutions. IN case he
ever gets the chance TO take hand In
the reconstruction OF the supreme Court
As e the rest OF Mr. Bryan's schemes
O, reform ana suggestions OF cOnstitu-
tiOnal changes. most OF them Will be
fOuul advocated with great energy In the
latest platform Of tho SO-called Social 4
Labor party OF the United States. adopted
at tho socialist Convention In New lOrk
six weeks agO.-New York sun.