New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-30
As TO .LEDGES.

Our esteemed nechbor THE Brooklyn Eagle
returns to the Republican record concerning
Judges in Broohlyr. and complains of the wica-
edness of a Republican Governor In appointing
W. W. Goodrich TO preside over the Appellate
Division and OF Republican conventions in NOM
mating Republicans TO run against Charles f.
Brown Nathaniel II. Clement and Willard
Bartlett when their terms expired. IT says
that such a record pales the DAILY incident to
insiCnif1cance.'
Granting that the partsanshp cited was I'M
fortunate and bad in tendency. by what proc
cs; Of reasoning can the mere nsistence on
partisan preference in nominating judges
something which beth parties have long in
irlced in with more or less regularity in every
part Of the State and in almost every State
where there is an elective judiciary-by what
reasoning can II he compared with deliberate
ard avowed attempt Of political party to pun
sh lust Judge OF It's own political faith be-
cause he would not on the bench obey its or
dcrs with regard to petty personal favOrs? The
issue IN Justice Days case is not Over-narrow
partisanship in judicial elections. or even per-
sonal choice in the making Of judicial appoint
men,s. but the independence Of the judge in
the performance of his official duties On Octo
lis an able man. man Of high character, and
"a man competent to fill any Office in the gift
"of the people" Nevertheless be said he had
refused to renominatp him because he had not
recognized his obligations to Tammany Hall
This was frank challenge. straightforward
expression Of determination 10 rule the JUS
tices of the Supreme Court under threat Of
punishment. and il was 50 regarded and re-
ti>> ,l,arr - l,r re
ms well as Republicans. Since then. in COW
ard,r panic over the storm he had raised.
Eicharl Croke. has eaten his own words and
tried to crawl ont OF his rredlcament by
whining that Justice DAILY had mot been an
upright Judge" The Eagle" itself has called
attention TO that slandcr. and demanded its
substanIl1tion or rc'raction Richard Croker
has not suhs,antlated. and he has not been
man enough 70 retract. He stands convict
cd out Of his own mouth OF his attempt to
punish Justice Daily for his independence. and
everybody knows that that independence con
sisted in the Judges refusal 10 dSplacc an old
and faithful clerk. who HAD himself been a
Judge. to make a place for one of Cookers IA
vortes. and his refusal to make judicial sales
a p.rQulste of the real estate office of another
of CrOkcr's friends.
The Eagle" will not help its judicial candi-
dates in Brooklyn by making light Of such
transaction as an insignificant incident beside
frank partisan contests over the election of
Judges As have said. Messrs. jerks and
Marcan are men CT excellent character and at
tanments. 1t Is only the idea o. their principal
advocates and supporters that the punishment
Of Justice DAILY because he did not obey the
mon who made hlm"'n performing his judi
clal duties is no more blameworthy and no
more n menace TO judicial independence than
the political rivalries over judgeshlps with
which we have long been familiar that makes
their election seem Objectionable Everywhere
that an attack on the freedom Of judicial de-
cision is apologzed for. there should the voters
show that they have no tolerance for the ticket
even of the apologsts.