The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-28
Every Honest Man VIII Como to II

AS the day of the election gets nearer
the Indignation Of the people at the in
solent attempt of Tammany to degrade
and corrupt the Judiciary will grow hotter,
and the popular comprehension Of the mag
nitude Of the enormity will become wider
and clearer. They are not yet walked up to a
thorough appreciation Of the capital impor-
lance Of the issue raised 80 boldly by the
Democratic organization in this city. But
they will be aroused fully before the end of
next week.
1t strikes at the most vital spot in our
political system. and accordingly is of far
wider than municipal concern; it is Of State
and even national Importance. The more
the intelligent people reflect on the conse-
quences involved in 1t, the frankest and
boldest assault ever made on the integrity
of the Judiciary in this country, the clearer
will be their conception OF the baleful
nature Of the force which is gathered to
strike the blow. Strong as the indignation
against the outrage is now, 1t is feeble as
compared with what 1t will be on the 9Th Of
November.
The Tammany Judiciary Convention made
no concealment Of its reason and motive for
Furnishing Judge DAILY. but rather pushed
them into prominence in order that the
Bench might receive the more emphatic
warning. AS a correspondent OF THE Sun
showed yesterday, the terms of twelve
Judges of the Supreme Court will expire
between the close of the present year and
Of the year 1905. Tammany was deter
mined to announce to all these Judges
that their only hope Of retaining their
places lies in submission to its commands.
This announcement. too, was the more i'm
pressive because it was made in face of a
protest from more than three Thousand
members Of the bar; and, moreover, by
getting two Judges to consent to its
policy and assist in its establishment, it
was able to faunt the very Bench in the
face Of the lawyers. That was q bold
and an apparently masterful stroke. Then
it proceeded to clinch the nail by requiring
the three Judiciary candidates to come to
it at its club, Inc in person render formal
submission to the policy. And Judge An
DREws and Judge FITZGERALD went! Prob
ably Mr.. CROKER expected that would end
the incident, silence opposition, and leave
Tammany ~undisputed master Of the will
and conscience OF the Judiciary.
AS it proved, however, this humiliating
submission Of Judges only alarmed the bar
and the public the more, for 1t demonstrated
that Tammany would go on enforcing its
policy Of dictation to the Bench as fast as
the terms OF the Judges now In office expired,
thus extending its authority over the whole
Bench, unless the people rose up in rebel
lion. Even Mr.. CROKER himself gives signs
OF alarm at the storm his arrogance has
stirred up. and. for the first time, under
takes TO make explanations and excuses
where before he was bold and defiant.
cleaner cut Issue never came before the
people. and it has been made 80 square
and direct that every intelligence can see
1t. Casuistry regarding it Is impossible,
and more especially for Democrats. It is
through the instrumentality Of their party
that this assault on the foundations OF JUS
tice is made, and only with their help can
1t be successful. II the blow is struck
the Democratic party will strike 1t. The
only means OF preventing 1t. too, are plain.
The Republican party is the sole instru-
ment OF vengeance at hand. That party
has come to the defence Of the independ-
ence Of the Judiciary not only by nomi-
mating q Democrat for the Bench assailed,
but also the very Democratic Judge against
whose Independence Tammany's assault Is
directed specifically.
Many Democrats who are appalled, and
outraged by the efrontery have been hop
ing to defeat and rebuke it simply by dis
eliminating against the Judiciary nomina-
lions in the Democratic column on tho
Official ballot. Some Of them have even
been 30 far illogical and inconsistent that
they have meditated voting for Judge DAILY
only on the Republican ticket, while voting
for all the Democratic ticket except Mr..
L%EvESTRTrT, though, OF course, Judge An
DREws and Judge FITZGERALD. LEyEN-