Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-02-21
Washingtuu STANDARD
OLYMPIA, WASH.
FRIDAY EVENING. FEBRUARY q. 1902.
The Sanctity Of Our Courts.

The sanctity Of Our Courts.
IL there is one Of the co-ord mate
branches OF our government that is
held in higher respect than the others
If there is one that, up to the electoral
commission count, was held in almost
superstitious reverence, it was the ju.
dietary. The dream entertained Of its
immaculate nature was rudely broken
bv the 80 tot" decision on absolute
party grounds, notwithstanding the
act creating the commission, in the
strongest Of language, directed that
full inquiry be made into the contest
on its merits. Some currency deci-
sions, since then, whereby the status
OF the greenback was changed several
times to suit the emergency demands
OF the moneyed power, before it had
acquired full control OF the party and
it had become its foster. parent, revived
the apprehension that the court might
at times lapse into somnollency of
the principle which should underlie
all law as we'll as construction OF law.
This was followed by the income.tax
decision, where the underlying princi-
pie was not powerful enough to enable
nine men to see their proper course
through the partisan glasses they
wore, and bare majority supporting
the constitutionality of the law was
changed in a night to q minority OF
one, or to 5-to.4 declaration that the
law was invalid.
1t cannot be otherwise than that
these doings have Invested the ermine
worn by the highest court of some OF
its luster, and still the people have
hoped and prayed that this safeguard
to our government, this resource of
the people when all other alternatives
fail, might be restored to its prestine
purity and vigor, and that = straight
forward course of righteousness would
in time remove.the doubt that men of
ability, with life tenure and ample
salaries, might afford to be just, and
remove the cynicism so frequently
manifested, impelling the belief that
all men are Of the earth, earthly.
1t is this consideration of the exalt.
ell duties imposed upon our courts and
the uncertain nature of man, which
impels US to stretch forth the protect.
ing hand whenever we see acts per.
formed. or hear criticisms made, oil
our courts which cannot but impair
the confidence felt in them by the
people, and just that far contract their
sphere of usefulness. As We cannot
have angels for judges, we must be
content with men, but let them be &c.
lected in = spirit Of fairness which will
sacriice partisanship, friendship. and
even closer ties. if they may exist, "a
jealousy guard the highest duties per.
formed by mortal man. Let the Judi.
ciary, when selected, avoid the appear.
ance of evil, for acts may be done by
confidentials aids which will bring dis.
trust upon those innocent Of intention
to perpetrate An evil, or to allow il to
be done by anybody in their employ.
1t being . matter OF very general
comment that the Recorder was pro-
jected and is supported by the personal
services and contributions of money
by the Supreme Court Clerk and it
official Reporter, the course of that
paper is legitimate subject for crit
cism and censure, il it in the least de-
tracts from the confidence aud respect
held for their superiors. There arr
only two objects in starting . nswspa'
per. One Of these, and the Legitimate
one, is to publish the local or general
news, or both, As means for securing
q life-support for its owners, and thu
other is to make it the organ Of some
clique or faction, and direct its ener
gies to exalting the one and traducina
other-all who do not support the
scheme.
The tone and temper Of the Recorder.
comments upon public affairs very
soon determined in which category il
was to be classed. As it has devoted
much OF its space to censure of men il
its own party, it 10 only fair to assum.
that it steps to the front with an AZ 4
grind, and that these young men, a
long - they draw fat salaries that en-
able them TO pay printers' and paper
mems bills. and appropriate time tina
the public pays for in writing invec
tive against their fellow men, the,
will deserve and receive censure. Blu,
will it end there? The human MIND
is not always just in fixing the limit
Of liability. The court il not in pc
sition 10 defend itself from the folly O
it understrsppers, and it seems tina
the ambitious projectors might ever
now be able to determine. from tn,
ominous grumblings of the people
just where their course will have tn
most disastrous effect, and out Of 70
spect to those kind patrons who hav'
enabled them 10 browse 90 long, ant
20 luxuriously of the Official grass.pla
that they can literally throw none,
to the BIRDS" to at once hand in thei
official resignations.
This would at least remove all sem
blance of a quasi-support which en-
forced silence imposes upon tho court
Were it not that the injury thu
done may be far greater than any par