Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-10-28
@ssrS County ArralA.
ISLAND PoxD. OCTOBER %.
A Pleasant Feature of our State Gov
ernment.

systems of state government dis
guessed and criticised to contcm-
plate the workings of our own.
With one or two exceptions like
the criticism of the basic principle
on which representation in the
legislature is founded, but out of
which no evil consequences can
be shown to have come, Vermont
may we'll be contcntcd and happy
in contemplating the successful
workings of her system of gov
ernment. 1t is plain, without
ornament or complications.
but strong and efficient. The
placing and balancing the de-
partments and powers of our
state government is a matter of
pride and congratulation and is
a very high enconium on the wis
dom of the fathers in laying the
foundations and of the children
in not disturbing or changing
them except to adapt them to
changing conditions.
The disturbance in Massachu-
sits occasioned by the discussion
of the comparative merits of its
appointive judiciary and an cleo
tive one shows the benefits arts
ing from the sagacity and con-
servatism of Vermont in the mat
ter of creating its Judiciary as
well as III other matters. While
some of the people ofsome states
are clamoring for an election of
their judges by the people and
others for having them created
b. executive appointment, ours
contentedly pursues the middle
course, enjoying the blessings of
laws administered with unques-
toned integrity and ability.
In the heads of government
there is more effective intelligence
than in the people but less integ-
rity. The incompetency of the
masses to wisely select our judges
and the dangers Of improperly
influenced executive appoint
nents are both avoided by our
method of electing the judges
Nobody can be more secure in
any position in this State than a
worthy and well qualified judge
of the Supreme Court, and no un-
worthiness in any judge can es-
cape the searching eyes of the
people. This compels the judge
to be worthy and repels opposi,
ton to him, while if he is un.
worthy every circumstance in
vites opposition to him. If the
security of the position induces
one of them to be defiant or care
less in the exercise of his high
office ''let him take heed lest he
fall" This is as it ought to be
This gives the people Influence
in creating the judicial depart
ment of their government, but il
compels the exercise of that in
fluence to be through certain
channels which will regulate it
This makes the judges sans peul
ct sans reproche. This holds
each member of the court respon
sible for the character he brings
to and maintains on the bench
and for the influence exerted b,
h N either individually or i'll con
junction with Others. This i.
what has inspired our judges tc
place the standard of characte
and attainments so high as the,
have and to come as near up t.
it as they have. This system ha
very much to do also with tn
reputation of our courts 70
ability and the fact that it's in
tegrity is certain in the minds O
the people. Pure judicial stream
flowing almost directly from tn
people through channels whicl
cannot be polluted is the prid
and glory of the judicial portion
of the triunity of our benefcen
state government. If our system
was different probably no on
would suspect that any executiv
in Vermont would involve tn
appointment of the judges in pc
lltical orpersonal considerations
But perhaps it will be as we
if not better and safer to hav
the choice of these as well a
other state officers as near tn
people as may be consistent wit
proper restraints tokeep their 81
lection from running into TIL