The Iola register., 1899-06-23
JUDGE ST|LLNELL'S SPEECH
Before The judicial Convention Last
Week. at Chanute, Character
istic of The Man.

nateu nun 10 tne ONCE OF ulrlTlCl
Judge, Hon. l.. Stilwell said among
other things:
81 thank you most heartily and
sincerely, aud through you the people
whom you represent, for the honor
you have conferred upon me in re-
nominating me for the office Of Dis
trict Judge | do not suppose that |
shall ever be able to repay the people
of this judicial district for the kind
ness aud confidence they have shown
to and reposed in me for the last siX-
teen years. can only assure you
that the action you have taken on this
! occasion shall be to me an additional
incentive, OF the strongest possible
character, to strive all the more faith
fully to prove myself worthy OF the
vote of confidence and approval you
have gwen me today.
at has heretofore occasionally
seemed to me that men in official posi-.
tions in their public addresses to their
constituents sometimes make a mis-
take when they hold the people too
much at arms length, as it were, and
fail to take them more carefully into
their confidence. And consequently
it is my intention, la the few remarks
] shall make this afternoon, 10 take
you, TO some extent, at least into my
inmost confidence the same as it
were talking to you in my office or in
my home. Aud therefore, | will say
to you in the fret place, frankly, and
without the slightest sfiectation, that
| / like and admire the office of district
Judge. And, apart from a few things,
such a. imposing sentences and the
/ like, | take pleasure in the perform
ance of its duties. | love the study
ef law-it Is grand science-aud the
more it il studied from broad aud
comprehensive standpoint, the more,
in my Judgment, it enIarges and
elevates the mind
"And, in my opinion, the man who
is the judge OF a respectable court Of
record of general jurisdiction, aud
who is engaged az such in the admin
istration of justice among his fellow
men, occupies the worthiest aud
noblest position that exists in our Re-
publican form OF government. / say
| to you now in absolute sincerity that,
even if the opportunity were afforded
and success assured, would not ex-
change my present position OF Judge
of this district for seat in either
House of the Congress OF the United
States
at is not to be supposed that the
delegates TO this convention desire or
expect that | shall make to them a
political speech, or say anything that
favors of mers partisan politics. And
so far as my mere personal political
views are concerned. it might pos
sibly he safely assumed that every
body in this district who has cared
enough about it to enquire, Is fully
advised on that subject. Neverthe-
less it seems to me that it is due TO
this convention and to the peOrle of
this district generally, that | should
say, a. | now do, that ! am Rspub b.
lican and have been from youth up.
| have no desire to deceive OF mis-
lead the people the slightest in that
respect. apbrebend that | could
not il would, and ! am quite sure
that | would not if | could. But ever
since | have been old enough to have
any intelligent comprehension OF the
scope and nature of the duties of
judges upon the bench, it has been
my opinion that they should not take
an active part in partisan politics. !
announced that conviction IA one of
the prominent planks in my platform
when first nominated ior this Office
many years ago, | have faithfully
adhered to it all these years, and
have never mad occasion to doubt the
propriety of such action.
at is one of tho wisest provisions
of our republican form OF government
that all our public officers, both ma
tional aud state, with very few eX-
ceptions, at regular intervals, must
resign their power and places into
the hands of the people for them to
deal with their public servants as
their merits or dement's may demand.
For many years in my judicial capac-
d., itv haVa guDa from Oue cOUutV ia
, another in this district engaged in
the duty, like the judges OF Israel in
the olden time, of Judging the people,
have listened to the testimony OF
those who had grievances or wrongs
to he redressed, and have tried tc
render such judgment thereon as the
, law and the facts for each particular
, case seemed TO warrant. But during