The Grenada sentinel., 1904-01-23
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GOV. JAMES K. vARDAMAN.

ballots will purify the political atmos-
phere and provide tonic which the
State needs to make it strong and
great.
There is another matter of moment
which l wish to discuss briefly. The
most important function in the econ
omy of this commonwealth is the judi
ciary. The power and influence of the
judge touches and affects every phase
OF human society. No law upon the
statute books is worth the paper it
is written upon until it is pronounced
the law by the courts. 1t is within
the power and grasp of the Judge to
undermine the very foundation of the
constitution and to work a change in
our system of government by construc-
tion-to save man from himself-to
save families-to make people happy.
to do right and to do wrong, to work
veal or woe, to destroy or build up, to
be more than human in mercy and yet
preserve the law, than all of the law
makers, the governor and civil officers
in the State combined. The character
of the man who is to perform the du-
ties of circuit judge, is of more impor-
tance to the people of that district
than the president of these United
States, or the governor of the State.
And the character, moral and mental
qualities of the supreme Judge is Of
more importance still, since his power
is ultimate. The judge, therefore,
should be man of unquestioned prob
ity, of high moral character; he
should be learned in the law; he
should be honest and independent To
the loftier ideals OF righteousness and
justice he should at all times be true.
His only master should be truth, and
his only ambition should be to do
right. If sense of personal obliga-
ton or an emotion of gratitude for the
place and it's emoluments are to have
any weight in shaping his conduct
while On or off the bench, during his
tenure Of office, that obligation should
be to the people, to whom the Office be-
longs. The governor who appoints
him is but their instrument-perform
ing a sacred trust want to impress
upon you, my countrymen, that the
governor who would use the appoint
i've power as his personal property
as mere political asset-for self-ag-
grandizement, falls disappointingly be-
low the ideal, and defeats the lofty
purpose OF the founders Of our govern
ment. And the man who would &C
cept the office at the hands Of a govern
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cred function, and then recognize any
sort OF personal obligation to him in
the discharge Of his ohncial duty, or
the use of the prestige Of his high sta
ton, is not fit for the place, but, on the
other hand, degrades. the ermine.
want Mississippi to keep up and main
tain the grand old standard Of excel
lence: L want the judiciary exempt
from the pernicious influence Of politi-
cal bossism; i want the Judge who
holds . commAseion from the governor
TO understand that the only obligation
or debt he owes that governor Is to
perform fairly, fearlessly, intelligently
and justly the functions .of the once
Of Judge. Let the political Judge
that judicial cancer on the body poll
tic, disease Of recent development In
Mississippile let M be extirpated. ana
as quickly - that sovereign remedy
the honest, Intelligent ballot csn
heal the fostering core, let 1t become 4
thing only of odious memory. The