The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-03-30
JUDGE PARKER COMMENDED.
Ex-Gov. D. II. Chamberlain Writes Of
the New York Jurist.
the Editor of the State:

the New DIX Jurlst.
To the Editor of the State:
1t has seemed to me singular fact
that the name and personality OF
Judge Alton B. Parker of New York
should have met with the treatment
which one sees on many hands. The
most persistent and universal remark
has been that he is an unknown
quantity" Now, it is true that Judge
Parker has not been for many years a
praticipan in mere partisan politics.
suppose he has never in his life man
ipulated primaries or packed caucuseS.
He has held judicial office since he was
30 years of age, and he is now the
chief Judge Of the court Of appeals Of
the State of New York, an ot1ice Which
in dignity, power, and Importance is
second to but one other judicial office
ia our country. He has respected and
honored bis position by observing at
all times judicial demeanor and by
carefully avoiding participation in the
feuds and scrambles of factions and OF
partisan political warfare. Does this
make him an unknown quantity? The
truth is, he has been known on all
hands during his whole life as strict
and unreServed Democrat. / don't
believe there is a man it the State OF
New York who is known everywhere
as more unequivocal, ingrained Dem-
ocrat in bis principles, his sympathies
and bis conduct. Has the word Dem
ocrat. has the name Democratic, no
sucl significance, no such fixed value,
that a great public character OF 30
years standing must come before the
people, in the incipiency Of his capdi-
dacy for political office with dehnl.
tion of these terms, and with fresh
verbal vouchers Of his political stand
ing and views?
1t seems to me that Judge Parker
has followed and is now following the
only course which self respect, person.
al and official decorum, and due re.
gard for public propriety dermit. He
is no more an unknown quantity than
Grover Cleveland or Richard Oley.
He i; no more called upon to issue a
political prorunciamento than is any
other great Democrat who has lived
as such in the public eye for more
than quarter of century. 1t SIM
ply argues ones own ignorance to
speak OF Judge Parker as unknown.
Not only is he the peer in intellect OF
any man in his party, he has behind
him a record Of lifelong, unf!nching,
and devoted adherance to his party, in
point, toe, Of personal character. habit
and associations, he will bear compar-
ison with any living man. He has 20
occasion to attest by fresh words
his party fealty. He has attested it
by life Of unvarying, open and un-
ouestiSned loyalty to his party and
his political faith. He has carried
the State Of New York, too, when
every other candidate of his party was
overwhelmingly defeated.
For one, / trust Judge Parker will
hold his present way until events
shall make it proper fer him to lay
aside bis judicial character and accept
political leadership. By such course
he will best commend himself to the
confidence Of his party and Of the
country. In my judgment he is quite
certainly to be before long adjudged
the one available Democrat who can
with reasonable certainty carry the
State of New York in the next presI-
Dental election: ard the man who
will then carry New York will proba-
bly, be our pext president. Cleve-
land has withdrawn himself peremp-
tori4y and finally, and it seems the
striking felicity Of the hour that cur
great pivotal State can present anoth-
er candidate second to no man in our
whole country in ability, in character,
in devotion to the principles Of his
party as they will undoubtedly be ex-
pressed by the coming Democratic na|-
til nal convention, and in general tit-
cess for the high office Of our chief
executive; and quite unequaled in
his probable capacity to win success
in the State and States where the real
test and decisive conflict will lie.
D. q. CHAMBERLAIN.
Columbia, March p, 1904.
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