The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-04-14
A STRONG JUDGE.
An EI-Chief Justice With a
Remarkable Record.
HAS BEEN VISITING HAWAII
On the Bench in Territory of New
the HOur'-Commendation.

Judge Thomas Smith, who has been
making a brief visit TO the Islands,
expects to return to the States by the
Rio. leaving this afternoon For four
years Judge Smith, who is an able
jurist and accomplished scholar has
been one of the most prominent men
| in his country. He was placed at the
head of the bench in the Territory Of
New Mexico when a man Of peculiar
qualification was needed for the post
| There had been in that country such
reign Of IawIessness that courts were
defed by powerful element. In some
| counties and towns the desperadoes
had the sympathy and often the CO.
| operation of the executive officers of
the law. In Col Smith, a Virginian,
was found a man to cope with the
| situation. He had to be utterly fear
less. absolutely impartial, well schOOled
| in the practice of law and of the firm
est and highest judicial turn of mind.
In the period of four years there was
made by this appointed Chief Justice
| such a record as it rarely falls to the
| lot of one man to make. He changed
| the life of the Territory. The charac-
Liter and extent of his remarkable work
| is shown by the following editorial
| from the Las Vegas, N. NJ. Optic news
Ipaper, given the morning after a grand
| farewell banquet rendered to the JUS
tice:
AS appears in locals today, Judge
| Thomas Smith, retiring chief justice
! of New Mexico, was rendered last even
| ing a farewell banquet by the citizens
of Las Vegas.
| The Optic feels that it would be de-
relict in duty, did it not take this oc-
| casion to voice the sentiment Of the
Ientire community, and we believe the
| sentiments of the better elements OF
| all New Mexico, in approval of Judge
Smiths administration as the chief
| justice of this Territory.
! No man has ever occupied the po-
sition of judge of this judicial district,
| to whom the people bear a debt of
| deeper gratitude. When he came to
| the bench, a little more than four
| years ago, there reigned confusion
worse COMPOUNDED, in all this section
of New Mexico. Life nor property was
| secure Bed-hanned perpetrators of
outrage were banded together in we'll
| known organizations defying law and
| terrOrizing the community. No man
| could call his life his own, and he
| held his property only so long as some
| stronger or more cunning man did not
| wish to take it. As a feeble resistance
| to this tate of affairs, an atrOciOus
murderer had been swung to a tele-
! graph pole in the principal street OF
East Las Vegas; but the general feel
| ing was that his death had been aC-
| cOmpIished by those who feared his
| confessions on trial rather than by
an outraged community demanding
| life for life. Fence cutting, barn burn
| ing, cattle stealing, midnight assassin
ations-these were the things which
characterized northeastern New Mex
| leo generally, and San Miguel county
particularly. Of course, capital with
drew, property was put upon the mar
ket regardless of value, visitors ceased
to arrive, taxes we're not paid, and the
darkest night of depression settled up
on this section, known since the Occu-
pancy Of New Mexico by American do
minatiOn.
How is it now? Everything has
changed. Law and order abound. I'm
lawful organizations have been aban-
dOned. Perpetrators of outrage sleep
in the grave or wear the penitentiaTy
stripe. Life and property are as safe
in this section of New Mexico as in
the most favored portions of the pop
ulOus east. The tide of prosperity has
again set our way. Capital is returning
to its accustomed haunts. No man
fears for his life or his possessions. |
And all this has been accomplished |
within the narrow bounds of four |
consecutive years. And now has this |
change been wrought?
New Mexico has had a chief justice |
who. in his official capacity, has known |
no friends and feared no enemies. who |
knew his duty and knowing dared per-
form. who made the law a terror to |
evil doors. who required the discharge
Of his whole duty from every county |
and court official. from every juror |
and every witness.
Such has been Judge Thomas Smith, |
to whom this section of New Mexico |
last night showed its appreciation Of a !
boundless debt of gratitude.
The following extract from a letter |
written TO Judge Smith by a leading |
attorney of central New Mexico, OD- |
posed to him politically and section |
ally, gives voice TO the sentiment we'll |
nigh universal in the Territory. and |
which has been strengthened and re- |
enforced by the utterances of the Bar /
in every portion OF the Fourth judicial /
district. The latter SAYS:
I see that the President has named |
your successor. and only hope that /
he viii so administer the affairs Of |
his Office as to be a worthy successor
TO yourself.
Il think I only voice the best senti- !
ment of New Mexico when I say that /
I believe that YOU accomplished more /