The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1899-03-03
Chrnemurrat-S Star
AN JUDICIARY.

oxford Globe.
The question as to whether Mississ.
ippi is to have an elective judiciary
will be settled by the people of this
State at the general election this
year.
We see that candidates for State
Offices are declaring themselves either
for or against this system, and from
the present outlook a full and fair
p, .ientation OF the question may be
expected by the people.
The proposed change is a radical de
parture from our present method OF
determining judicial preferment, and
we think that the people ought to go
slow before they commit themselves
TO a proposition which means so much
to the citizenship of this great com
mOnwealth of ours.
The present appointive system has
for all practical purposes proven sat
is~factory. and We think it a good idea
to invoke the principle Of letting well
enough alone.
While in some instances under the
present system, men who were not in
every respect qualified have been ele-
waited to the bench, yet this does not
initiate against the appointive sys-
TEN, because not ever the most en-.
thusiastic advocate OF the elective
scheme claims for il such absurd viz
tues and unreasonable advanta.
yes.
IL therefore, it be possible for mis-.
takes to be made under either system
then the reasons for changing ought
TO overwhelmingly outweigh the ad.
vantages now enjoyed by the present
method. In the first place there was
never any objection to the appointive
plan until OF late this power placed in
the Governor has heen prostituted
and the public patronage pledge to
further the political Advancement of
the Governors as generally charged
throughout the State.
Now, If this be true, the fault does
not lie in the appOintive system, but
in the people who elected Il Governor.
who prefers to perpctuate himself in
public office than discharge his duty
to the State. The very same people
who propose to elect the judges are
responsible for the conduct of the man
they elected governor, and if they ac-
knowledge their inability to elect Il
good governor who will faithfully
serve them and their interests, they
by this very confession. conclude the
further fact that they can't elect com
petent judges, and this must be the
first arguments Of the advocates Of Il
change. We think, therefore, there
is no necessity for saying that the ne.
cessity Of "A change exists, but on the
other hand, we suggest that the pres
ent system be perpetuated and the
people elect a good governor who will
make good appointments, and com
petent State Senate. who can aud
will also pass upon the qualifications
of the respective appointments made
by the governor, because every APP
pOintment must be made by and with
the advice and consent Of the senate
and the people elect these very sena-
tors. The judiciary ought to be fur
Their removed from politics in place OF
being dragged into it, and this very
argument Of itself, we think, ought to
down the elective proposition, be-
cause, when a mans life, liberty and
property is involved the man who pro-
poses to dispense even handed justice
between parties litigant ought to he
absolutely removed from any desire to
revenge Il wrong, either actual Or i'm
aginary at the expense Of a helpless
party, and ought to enjoy the right tt
feel and know that no suspicion o
surh cal possibly exist, but that h,
can weigh impartially every question
which he is called upon to decide
whether the parties, whose DISPUTE
he settles, be the friend or foe of tn
presiding judge.
Unless some better reasons are ad
vanced than are now urged by tn
friends Of the elective system, we fai
TO see the necessity for it and vii
therefore, oppose such IA doubtful poi
icy being fostered upon the State o
MiSSisSippi.