New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-15
.JTDGES IN POLITICS.

MI Justice GaynOr made n speech ar the van
Wyck campaign meeting in Brooklyn on Thurs
div evening in which he thanked his audience
for the honor done him in asking him 10 preslde
there. but he signaly failed to ask from the peo-
ple of this State pardon for the dishonor done
them by one of the Justices Of their Supreme
Court in descending from the bench to take the
platform for a political harangue If any SELF
respectinC Democrat thinks condemnation or
this degradation of the judicial office Is due
merely TO partisan prejudice and has no reason
behind H. let him imagine II he can such strong
Democrats as Edgar NJ Cullen or Willard Bart
lett so far forgetting the respect due by them to
,heir own Office as TO appear in political meet
ing and make a political speech. Such an action
is almost unthinkable in the case of these heirs
10 the old tradition of the sacredncsS of the Ju-
dcIal office 1t is only the new notion which
nreyails now in the Democratic organization
! and allows Mr.. Croker TO set up and knock
down Judges like ninepins that countenances the
! dragging of the judicial robe in the dust or the
political rally.
Justice Gaynor may say and believe that MS
compaign speech Will not affect his decision on
my matter in court. But that Is only begging
the question. He cannot separate his personal
ity from his office. He cannot he William j..
Gaynor the impartial judge one minute ana
William J. Gaynor the Democratic spellbnder
the next Justice DAILY might perhaps nave
heon thoughtful TO give references to Tammany
LAWYERS and even Obedient in appointing n
clerk nj Mr. Croker's orders while still striving
70 execute impartial justice. but everybody
bonors him for that high-minded sense or pro-
nrjntv which leads Tammany to attempt his
| punishment It Is n significant coincidence
his judicial campaigning and this Croker Judge
making II shows that the Chicago platform
| ottacl; on the Supreme Court Of the United
States and it's threat to convert II into polltl-
| cal engine have had their disnteSrating erect
on the moral fibre Of the Democratic party.
, Otherwise no mad brain would ever nave dared
IN conceive the punishment Of just Judge ana
| ossaU The freedom Of the judicial ONCE Other-
! wise no Democratic audience would have SAL be-
! fore q iudee who showed himself so contemptu-
o,s of judicial propricty az TO make himself
| political advocate
| fudge owes II to the State to command re-
sncct for :he courts. 10 do nothing that shall
| mako neonlc think Of the court or Of the Judge
! a. minplng in their political strifes. The evil
Of notica Judges is less the actual injustice
they may do through prejudice or favor as the
cortampt for the courts themselves which they
are likely 70 engender. This is so generally rec
ocnized by lawyers and Judges that 1t Is sur
rrjsng that Justice GaynOr should have been
invited 10 speak AT a political meeting. Many
| Judges would consider il an insult. 1t Is still
more surprising that Mr.. Van Wyck. fresh from
the bench. should have permitted the court no
| sat in 10 he made tender 10 his campaign. His
complacent acceptance Of judicial aid in becom-
| ing Governor throws a now light on his boosted
POLITICAL character Is Judge who has such OBJ
fuse views Of judicial propricty to he trusted 10
exercise n fine sense of duty ana dignity rs
Governor? Would he not % executive do what
Justice Daily refused TO do rs judge? Would
he not obey that same Croker who Is attacking
il the person of Justice DAILY the independence
of the judiciary