The age-herald., 1897-11-18
TECHNICS FROM
 CURRENT TOPICS,

In discussing the present Judiciary sit-
 uation, it is unnecessary and unwise te I attempt to confuse the minds of tho people by wilful parversions. or dema- goglc appeals. The conditions are clear 1 Fy defined and unmistakable and the
 youngest and most inexperienced vobsr
 need not misunderstood the issue. To | struggle to surround the campaign with l a sentimental. unnatural atmosphere, is
 to make oneself somewhat absurd, when 1 the real facts in the case are stated ard comprehs nded. There is no need for 1 the burning of fncenEe about or around
 a single public or political office within
 the gift of the people of Alabama There
 are no inner temples in the state where I an men become holier than their fellows.
 and are no longer responsible for their
 conduct, because of an fmpenetrable
 veil which is supposed to separate them from their fellow men, Every office
 holder in Alabama is the servant of the people and is accountable for his stepv- l ardship, whether he be judge or con- | stable.
 No one desires to see the sacred (?1 I Judicial robes trailed through the mire I of an unseemiy political campaign. No l one demands that a man capabie of Sit | ting upon the supreme bench of Ala l bama, shall adopt the methods of a ward politician dn presenting his claims before the citizens of the commonwealth. No man asks that candidate shall low CT his self-respect by a single act or word. The extremest partisan desires ! nothing from the worthy gentlemen who are asking the suffrages of the people
 that any fair minded man could object | to. The voters of Alabama are only | urging the candidates to treat them with honesty and candor. They are making l the straightforward inQuiryi "Where do you stand on the great issues before I the people of the state?" Only this
 and nothing more. It Is a question that
 can be answered without endangering
 the spotless purity of the judicial robes.
 It is a question that must be answered before candidate will be permitted to
 wear the Judicial garments. A man who l has not the courage of his convictions,
 ds not the man Alabama needs upon its | supreme bench moral coward has | no right to hold in his hands the issues
 of life and death. A just man is a brave man.
 
 There is no especial reason that the political flavor given to the race, for the judgships should be 50 distateful to | many who are clamoring for a campaigns that is ideahstic, and idylfic. Some of Alabama's supreme judges, in different periods of her history, have been the shrewdest political manfpulators of their | day and generation. They have been known to labor in season and out of sea- | son. to advance their own personal in- terests and those of their aspiring | friends. Some of the men who have occupied seats on Alabama,s supreme bench have been known to take part in shaping the Legislation of the state and | to stand in the shadow beyond the healt and glow. while others did their bidding and pulled the chestnuts from the fireI l It is somewhat late in the day to attempt to separate the candidates from the plat l form. The only positively new feature | in the whole matter is, that any candi- l date should presume to ask for the votes | of his constituents without being will | ing to tell those constituents what his l platform is.
 The case as dt now stands, to be ad- judicated by the people, ds simply this; Honorable, intelligent and upright men are asking to be made chief justice and
 associate justices of the supreme court, and the people are earnestly demand l ing in return for their votes that these men tell what position they occupy l touching the great questions of the hour l There can be no humiliation or degrad- 1 ation in this. A man can impart this l information to flEs fellow citizens watal- out the smallest danger of dragging his l iffa in in
 lowering his official dignity. The people l are asking for prompt answer to their
 interrogation; they have a right to re- l quire satisfactory reply before they
 cast their votes. They are not to be l deceived by any sentimental platitudes. nor overpowered by the fumes from l incense, burned at any shrine. They await an answer to this question, which 1 they have a. right to propound to each l candidate for a seat upon the bench of 1 the highest court in the state. "Where l do you stand; what is your platform?" | The candidate who refuses to listen to l the voice of the people, enters upon a
 hopeless campaign.
 l In the present campaign there Is no antagonism between the bar and the poll | iticians; there can be none, for in the 1 majority of instances, they are one, and the same. The most astute and success 1 full politicians of the state are. with very | few exceptions, among the most distin- guished lawyers of Alabama. Lawyer
 and politician are frequently synonom- ous terms. The bar in this case is di- l vided as on all public questions. It has
 right to be- But, the people. the great
 mass of voters. are united in demanding
 that the candidates shall announce theiR platforms. BALL.