Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-11-25
Comparative Justice.

in the British provinces
md especially in Canada and
British Columbia than in the
United States. This assertion is
without foundation. These pro-
vincial officers, especially the
Stipendary justices and the con-
stabulary, are VIGOROUSLY corrupt.
The higher courts with all their
pomp of ceremony, wigs, and pow
der are mockeries of justice when
compared with the respect accorded
the blind Goddess in this land of
popular governm, mt.
The higher English courts are
presided over by the most eminent
and honorable INSISTS in the world.
These courts and the presiding
judges are above reproach in the
monarchy as we'll as in America.
Nobody imputes dishonor to the
presiding judges OF the highest
courts of any civilized government.
In the United States the courts are
the main stay of republican insti
tutions; and their final DEGREES are
as sacred as the tenets of the
constitution to the patriotic Ameri-
can citizen. The curbstone cpl
thets, however, are not hurled at
the higher courts
The courts of this country are
more responsive to public SYM
patty than are the courts of a
monarchy. The life tenure policy
of monarchal governments makes
the courts independent to public
opinion, but it does not elevate the
public officers above selfish inter
ests. An American court officer
may be moved by public sympathy
hut the citizen who believes the
people should rule should not hold
the prevalence of this influence to
be wholly bad in its effects. The
Canadian officers are just as easily
influenced but by other and more
sordid means. The hapless Of
fender who has no money or other
means of appealing to the selfish
interests of the count officers is GER
tain of the penalties of the law,
but the kid-gloved offender, the
man with money, or the man who
has friends of social standing is
more safe from the penalties of the
laws of monarchies THAI the same
class is in the United States. The
legal duties of the officials of the
countries beyond our borders are
performed with one hand extended
for tip or a division of the fruits
OF the crime.
The subordinate officers of these
monarchal provinces have more
authority than in the United
States. A common constable is
often clothed with judiciary powers.
The experience of last year in the
Northwest Territory was evidence
of this. They performed all off,
cial duties with an open hand ex-
tended for tip or division of the
booty. A division of the fruits of
a crime very often secures dispen-
sation for the law breakers. a
thousand instances could be cited
to prove the falacy of the assertion
that life tenure officials are less
corrupt than those who are elective
and serve an exacting constituency.
For patriotic reasons the papers
and the people should refrain from
the abuse of our courts. If there
is any virtue in popular govern
ment it is in the courts and court
officials who administer the laws.
If life tenure officers were more
faithful and executed the laws
more strictly than elective officers
there would be nothing left to sup
port the spirit of American patriot
ism. The fact is, life term officers
are infinitely more corrupt than
elective officers.
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