New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-01
JUST JUDGE AND HIS PUNISHMENT

Richard Croker's New Years gift to New
York is shower Of mud at its ermine. Joseph
+. DAILY rctires from the bench as the penalty
of having been an upright Judge To-day. after
twenty-cght years Of service, he Is once more
I'm private life, carrying with him the respect
and goodwill of all his feow-citizens whose
respect and goodwill are worth the while OF any
honest man. He Is more fortunate in defeat
than his enemy in victory. No new term in
the Supreme Court could be as precious as the
rcputc Of having dcfed Croker In his attack
on the independence Of the judiciary. The sue
cess OF last falls effort TO retain good Judges
in service would have rewarded Justice DAILY
for his Independence and rebuked those who
sought to punish him. but the triumph OF
the brazcn claim that boss has a right 10
demand from judges obedience in their official
action does something more than inilict re-
buke and close an account. 1t leaves Croker
still answerable TO the people for an unpun-
shed outrage their administration of JUS
tlce II leaves one more unbalanced item In
the account which the same voters who remem-
bered MAYNARD and Maynards master Will have
to settle with him who dares remind judge
of the obligation he owes to the political pow
ers that made him."
The end Of Justice Days service will be re-
gretted The meaning Of II should not be lost.
The imposslbllity of overcoming Croker In this
particular case and preventing the accomplish
ment OF his scheme to control the courts should
impress the voters with the danger Of giving
themselves into his power. Perhaps they thought
he only wanted 10 own the Mayor, and owning
him would be satisfied to use him for the pub
lie interest They find that he wants 10 own
the courts and use them for his private interest.
But they only make that discovery when 1t IL
too late and they are powerless to protect their
courts after they have surrendered everything
else The punishment of Justice DAILY because
no refused to make his court the instrument II
Croker's real estate schemes or Of his patronage
ought 10 make further toeIation Of Crokerism
IMPOSSIBLE. and the continued reminder Of that
outrage which will be furnished by the ina
bility of the people last fall to prevent it ia
likely 70 be stimulanf to memory when the
next opportunity for choice between good and
bad government is presented.
Justice DAILY will be long regarded In this
city as type OF what n Judge should be. Some
people thought he sometimes stood straight
that he leaned over backward. They said he
might have been more concatory 10 politicians
without in any way detracting from the I'm
partialty Of his decisions. But In this day.
when we gee judges not merely concntory 70
politicians. but themselves engaging In politics,
making political speeches. and managing polli-
cal conventions from the judicial chamber, il II
a good thing 10 see judge who docs carry up
rightncss 10 such an extreme rs 10 !" pun
ished by the politicians. Such judges do no
more than keep the balance against their col
leagues Of the conciliat0ry and wirepulng
sort. We have today one less OF that honor.