The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-15
THE POSITION OF THE JUSTICES.

THE bandaged eyes represent the equality and
! the er1nine the purity OF justice, administered
through the forms and in the tribunals of the
law slur upon the integrity of the bench is like
the splitting OF scandalous venom at woman. The
American people feel that while their courts clean
they can meely endure the filth OF the lower depths
OF politics For Judge to be seen even carefully
picking his steps through that nasty pool IS shame
full as the spectacle OF wife slipping into abode OF
sin.
For these reasons the charge of Speaker Wright
against four Justices OF Supreme Court now de-
MED by them is almost unexamp1ed in its inamy and
If true would have been sickening revelation. He
made the accusation as an excuse for his own deep
treachery to his immediate constituents to the State
and to the country. For the insult to the nation
pressed by his vote for Dan Burns, he sought to
shield himself by quoting the imaginary advice of four
members of the most exalted department of the State
government. a Judge does not cease to be man or
citizen but for the reason that he speaks for the
law whose seat as Hooker beautifully said, SIS in
the bosom offGod and whose voice is the harmony
Of the world" he is placed somewhat above ordinary
manhood and ordinary citizenship. This is the chv-
alrous tribute OF free people to the men who are
iutrused with the protection OF their rights and the
redress of their wrongs. Judges are supposed to
touch the world in its most vital interests, and yet to
live apart from the world, in the realm OF unduted
truth and honor, so that they may rigidy apply
eternal principles to tiuctuating facts
Therefore, even where great and honorable states
men, with audable ambition are pressing toward the
toga judicial interference is resented as an outrage
and 4 crime. But for Justice OF the Supreme
Court OF California to champion Dan Burns would
reveal unspeakable moral eprosy. and, for plain rea
SONS would constitute almost improbable offense
Such advocacy would imply absolute disbelief in the
crcunstantial record that has been published broad
cast against this Mexicanized American by The Call
and by the reputable press OF the State. Each
Of these accusations unless true, gross and in
deensible libel, for which newspaper proprietors,
editors and reporters, are both criminay and civy
liable Dan Burns, possessed OF the strength of in
nocence and integrity, has the inalienable right to
invoke these remedies and wash his dripping repu-
tation to the whiteness of snow. And yet the very
judicial officers who if his apparently torpid sensiby
should be aroused to the point OF common self
respect would sit in the place of ultimate judgment
Speaker Wright has represented having deliberately
preudged multitude OF cases upon which il might
thus become necessity for them to pass The annals OF
the United States do contain the story OF atti
tude so humiating so despicable and so exasperat-
ing The Call to which, as to citizens generally ju-
dicial reputation is dear and beyoad calumnious
rumors or uncorroborated statements is glad to be
assured that majority OF our own appellate court
have voluntarily transferred themselves from the
bench to the lobby It is hoped moreover that leg
isative resentment at such challenge to decency as
Speaker Wright has issued will insure the igno-
nous defeat of the defiant candidate for the Federal
ISenatorship, on whose behalf so transcendent deg
radiation falsely promulgated As for the Speaker
himself his broken pledges will not be seriously TN
derscored by additional fasehood