The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-07
A RTISAN REPUBLICAN, JUDICIARY.

silver. Lit is reported IDaJ III TUE lIdue
between the Republican and the Popu
list machine, the Republicans get four
Aug. NJ. Moore, of the First district
Chas. A. Cook, of the Second district
W. r. Bynum, Jr., of the Fifth district
John b. caves, Jr., of the Eleventh dis
trict: John A. Hendricks, of the Twelfth
district. The Populists get one-H. T.
Seawell, of the Seventh district; and one
independent, A. ]. Loftin, of the Sixth
district. Ii this ticket should be elected
the judiciary, considered politically
would stand:
Supreme Court Republicans, 3; Demo
crafts i; Populists, /.
Superior Court Republicans, 8; Popu-
lists, 2; Independent, /; Democrats, 0.
Criminal Court Republicans. 2.
Out of nineteen judges in the State,
the Republicans would have IA, the
Populists 3, the Democrats ], and the
Independents /, if we count Mr.. Loftin
an independent We do not know his
political status.
The bench of North Carolina, except
during the reign of the carpet-baggers.
has been the glory Of the State. Some
Of the present judges are its shame.
Some of them so upon the hustings and
make partisan speeches, dragging the
ermine in the dirt; some of them render
partisan decisions which make a mock
cry of justice; and some others are un-
fit for other reasons, which are web
known to the people, and which need,not
be enumerated.
-Four years ago the Populists declared
themselves in favor of 'non-partisan
judiciary" and declared that ION ac-
count of the weakness of human nature
a court of the purest and best men, al
of one political party are liable even I'M
consciously to lean to their own party.
For the reasons given, 1.-THE purest and
best men, then on the bench were re-
tired in order to have all parties repre-
sented in the judiciary. That was four
years ago. Now, in 1898, it has been
agreed by the machine Of the Fusion
wings to repudiate all that the Populists
said about a non-partisan Judiciary, and
70 make the bench almost solidly Repub-
lican, for at least one Of the judges elect
ed as a Populist showed he was a Re-
publican by coming to Raleigh in Janu-
ary to lobby for the election Of Pritch-
ard in order to secure the appointment Of
/ relative as postmaster under McKin-
ley.
Are the Republican office-holders, now
IN control of the Populist machine, de-
termined to make Populists who vote
with them advertise their betrayal ct
every principle to which they are commit
led as the price Of the offices they hold?
It looks so. for the Republican State
convention openly repudiated every plank
IN the Populist platform, and requires
using Populists not only to vote for men
who proclaim their faith in the gold
standard but also to destroy their prin-
ciple of non-partisan judiciary. Is it
any wonder that from Hyde to Hender-
son the Populist voters who love reform
more than office are in revolt against
the high-handed methods which Pritch-
ard and his agents are employing this
year? The wonder is that every Populist
is not in open rebellion against such die
tation.
The high character and learning Of the
men named by the Democrats for judicial
honors are known of all men. They are
lonest, they are upright, they are learn
ed in the law, and four of them have
shown their fitness by an honorable ca
reer on the bench. Not one of them
could be influenced to render partisan
decision or to deny or delay justice to
any man, no matter what his color or his
creed. The election of the Democratic
nominees insures an able judiciary, and
their election is so necessary to preserve
"A 'non-partisan judiciary that hon
est Populists will support them
in order, as the Caucasian said III
1894, to prevent a partisan court that rs
dangerous to the liberties of the people
and destructive Of good government" ).
We invite the patriotic consideration Of
all voters to the necessity of learned
and pure judiciary, and appeal to men
Of all parties to prevent the threatened
elevation of a court almost solidly Re
publican, and partially PARTISAN Such =
court, said the Populists in 1894, rs dan
gerous to the liberties of the people and
destructive Of good government" There
is only one way to avert that calamity.
and that is by electing the men named by
the Democratic convention.