The Chanute times., 1899-06-23
JUDICIAL CONVENTION.
Continued from LIST page)

to do his duty to the best of his abil-
ity.
"It is not to be supposed that the
delegates to this convention desire or
eXnect that shall make to them a
political speech, or say anything that
savors of mere partisan politics. And
so far as my mere personal political
views are concerned, IL might possibly
be safely assumed that everybody in
tins District who has cared enough
about it to inquire. is fully advised on
that subject Nevertheless IL seems
to me that it is due TO this convention
and to the people of this District gen
orally. that | should say, as ! now do,
that | am a Republican and,have been
from youth up have no desire to
deceive or misead the peOnle the
slightest in that respect. | apprehend
that could not If | would and | am
quite sure that would not if could.
Butever since i 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 as one or
the prominent planks in my platform
when first nominated for this office
many years ago, l have faithfully
adhered to it all these years. and have
never had occasion to doubt the pro-
priety of such action.
'Some years ago, Judge Albert II.
Horton, then Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of this state, in a judi
cial opinion written by him, spoke as
follows: The Courts are for the peo-
pie, and not for party, and every
man should confidently apply to them
with the assurance that his rights,
and not mis- politics. will be considered
and adiudicated. And in a very recent
opinion written by Associate Justice
John NJ. Harlan of the Supreme Court
of the United States, he gave utter
ance to this noble sentiment: IF
there is one place under our system of
government where all should be in a
position to have equal and exact JUS
tice done them, it is court OF JUS
tice.' Endorse heartily and uneQuiv-
ocally, the broad and liberal senti-
ments of these two eminent Judges.
1t is by snch rules that | have sought
to regulate my official course in the
past. and | shall adopt no other or
different line of conduct in the fut-
ure.
ut is one of the wisest provisions
of our republican form of government
that all our public officers, both natl
onal and state, with very few except
ions, at regular inter walls, must resign
nd tNlnnoS int n f1n hands
of the people for them to deal with
their public servants as their merits
or demerits may demand. For many
years, in my judicial capacity | nave
gone from one county to another in |
this district engaged in the duty, like
the Judges of Israel in the olden times
of Judging the people, | have listened
to the testimony of those who had |
grievances or wrongs to be redressed,
and have tried to render such judg- |
ment thereon as the law and the facts
of each particular case seemed to war
rant. But during all these years |
have also tried to bear IN mind and to |
never forget it, that the time would |
come when the people in their turn
would Judge me. That tine is now
approaching. And disclainling here
and now any feeling of egotism or self
conceit, and fully realizing my own
short comings and imperfccLionS, but
with hope and oLidence based on
the serene conviction that | have at
all times honestly tried to do my duty
to the very best of my ability, | sub
nit my case into the hands of the |
people, and shall patiently and hope
fully await the result of the verdict |
next November"