The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-08-10
FIAT JUSTlTlA.

Il
10 submit TO constitutional and statu
tory limitations upon their sovereignty
All men 1T for citizenship realize tina
Justice is the cohesive element al civil
ization. Therefore they submit cheer
fully 10 the usual pressure Of the Law
upon which they also rely for thei
own protection.
Theory and practice. however, ar
often widely dissimilar. In our Owl
country trained. balanced and indie
pendent judicial minds. steered by edu
Gated consciences. are frequent, but no
common. II is hard to define what Z
perfect Judge is. In both parts OF the
Bible, there are no denunciations ST
bitter as those against unjust and dis
honest Judges. In our own days, in
various forms, IL has been frequently
said by great thinkers that. if the ad-
ministration of the law is equal an,
pure, rottenness in other branches OF
the government can almost be tolerat-
ed. What is meant is that the courts
have the power to extirpate political
rascality.
The ideals and standards Of the
American judiciary in the public mind,
though unexpressed in mere trappiLgs
and ceremony. are probably the highest
in the world. Reverence for the law
has survived much treachery to 1;s
mandates. Examples Of subserviency
to selfish or demoralizing influences
have been regarded as exceptions TO
a general rule. Confidence in the courts
it is the struggle of thousands to main
tain. even in the face of occasional sin
lister appearances.
Human nature is variable and prone
to elasticity, and judges do not cease
to be men. Nevertheless they must
submit to more searching criticism
than those whose responsibilities are
lower. There are very few judicial Of
icers who will accept brides. This is
a coarse and unfrequent mark of cor
ruption, which is so clear that it is
usually discerned. But there are in
ways, in which Judicial in-
dependence and probity may be stain
ed, many of which, though they can
be conjectured, are beyond actual de-
lection. Inordinate affection for par
-icular attorneys is one mode of divert
ng business that is most dangerous. |
still more subtle, and even more in |
furious, is the secret determination of |
Judge 10 promote a special interest or |
| particular faction. Without a word. |
even a look, that could be used |
is impeaching evidence, it is possible, |
hough very unusual, for a judicial Of
icer to be unjust to the core. By the
,ery tone of his voice in charging a
ury or in addressing counsel, he may |
lffect a decision.
A Judge should be above all suspicion
.ase before him. The best guarantee
s character. There have been and |
here are men on the bench, whom the |
'ilest partisan or pettifogger never
doubted. Hale. Mansfield, Eldon, Mar
hall. Kent are illustrations of world
vide fame. In California, a decision
~ Judge Norton or Judge Temple was
accepted, and, while Judge
Beatty was paying no attention to any
hing except working on records, all
he underground partisans in the
state could not deprive him of a nom
nation or an election. There are near
r examples. to which it might be in
elicate to refer.
A sound bench requires the support
I sound bar. An honest lawyer will II
OF accept an invitation to wreck an
state and divide the plumber. He will
OF manufacture testimony in his own
flee or anywhere else. He will treat (
illnesses with respect and, even
lough INDUCED, will not desecrate :
ourts Of justice with foul language. A !
God lawyer must necessarily be a gem &
eman, under all conditions. He will
onor the courts by honoring himself
nd his profession. He may be, and he
ught to be. vigorous, strong, deter I
lined. as well as studfous and, as the I
ermonters say, "judgmatical." But {
IS demeanor, his manner, his Ian ,
uage. his character, will all comport :
18th clean heart and a cultivated {
ind. He will never lower his own dig
ity or degrade himself and his pro-
ession by coarse personalities or by 7
'icky methods. He will be truthful. c
Ianly, broad. an elevating influence in c
lie community.
Such a bench and a bar as have !
cen thus sketched are an inspiration r
} civilization itself In this Territory. e
iere is much to commend, but there
ay be also much to deprecate. The :
'sult OF pending Investigations is a
waited with hope and confidence that C
II local standards will correspond
it'll American ideals.