The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-22
THE suDersnrp.

man chpa1lty htc tuono VIM nEo VS. nv
quainted with him and most frequently
brought IN contact with him In the
affairs OF life. Indeed, they are the only
ones who can thoroughly know him. the
place TO go to lind ont q mans fitness for
any position Is the place, where he Hives
and works. Judge Peabody has practicsd
law ell his life In Portland, and It Is
here, therefore, that.the best Information
assto his qualifications to be the successor
on the Supreme hench. OF Judge Haskell,
can be obtained. How he Is regarded
here botn by lawyer and layman there
is no manner OF doubt. Not only do they
consider him fIt for the bench, but con
spicuously fit. Every lsymRn knows him
as gentleman of high charsctsr, Of
calm and equable temperament, patient
and receptive. Every lawyer knows him
as lawyer thoroughly versed In the
science and practice Of the law. For
years they have practioed before him In
the Probate Court. tribunal which
affords as good opportunities to test a
man 8 fitness for judicial position as
a higher court. and the universal tes-
timony is that he possesses In very
marked degree all the traits and qualifi-
cations that are tiesir able In nisi prius
judge-patisnoe, sci restraint. readiness
and clearnsss; while he Is In no wise
lacking In those needed In judge sitting
In review--thorough comprehension OF
the fundamental principles OF the law,
the ability to apply those principles cor
rectly to actual cases, coupled with the
power TO state his opinions precisely aud
strongly. We know that 1t Is some
times possible for a man to receive per-
functory support even for SO exalted and
responsible position rs that OF Supreme
Judge. But there is nothing Of that
kind about Judge Peabody's support.
The men who have recommended him
have done SO in the full belief, belief
based on thorough knowledge OF the man,
that he is conspicuously &c for the place.
This Is shown by the fact that many
of them men who are recognized
as among the leaders of the bar
have written unsolicited letters In praise
of his qualifications, something they never
would have done had they felt no more
interest in his selection than what might
proceed from considerations of locality
or association. We do not say these lat
Ter considerations have not had any
weight. They have, land 1t is proper
that they should. But we do affirm that
they were minor considerations, and that
was the belief that he was in every way
fitted to make q worthy successor to
Judge Haskell, ard would bring to the
bench all the qualities in marked degree
that are needed there,
The claims Of locality are secondary, but
they ought TO count for something, other
things being equal. A conspicuously
lit man from this part of the State ought
to have precedence, even If a conspicu-
ously fit man were available in some other
part of the State. Courts exist largely
for the settlement Of questions arising in
the course OF the business Of the people.
They ought, therefore, to be constituted
and arranged. 80 far forth as possible, so
as to best subssrve thisspurpose. Portland
is the business center OF the state, and
questions requiring the interpretation OF
judge are more likely to arise here than
anywhere in the State. This should be
taken into consideration In selecting
Judge, and or several candidates, assum-
ing them equally fit, the one should be
chosen who will best meet this demand.
There is now but one judge In Portland
or this part CT the State, and con-
siderable part OF the time his regular
duties require him TO be In distant parts
of the state. Without another judge
living here the demand which frequently
arises for speedy hearing and determine
ton OF cases. especially OF cases in equity,
win go unsupplied. The appointment Of
Judge Peabody viii meet this demand,
and safeguard important business In
terests. Looking at the question from
the standpoint of fitness exclusively,
Judge Peabody's appointment is one
eminentIy proper to be made. Looking
at it from the standpoint Of how best to
accommodate the business interests OF
the people, his appointment Is clearly de-
manded by the existing situation.