The Ocala banner., 1907-11-29
JUSTICE BREWERS REMARKS

Certainly it is a spectacle calculat- |
ed TO excite attention when a supreme
court justice, one of the eminent nine
who sit in the room Of silent power
and have their lips usually padlocked
when they walk abroad, INDUCES in
such speech as fell from the lips OF
Justice Brewer the other night. The
Civic Forum, before which the ad-
dress was delivered, is new organt-
zation. an Outgrowth from the peace
conference OF last year. which is dedi-
Gated to q somewhat cold and aloof
educative discussion OF great Ques-
tions. It's members naturally sat up
and took notice when they discovered
that the first piece de resistance
placed before them was highly sea-
soned with contemporary and person
al references.
The interest attaches not so much
10 what Justice Brewer said as 10 the
/ fact that a man in bis position should
have felt impelled TO launch on such
Ia line of discourse. Not since Thorn
as jefferson and John Marshall Ceas
ed their acrimonious joint debate has
a distinguished representative OF the
judicial department of the govern
ment so openly sought 10 spank the
executive. Passing over the questions
Of taste. and also whether there is any
gain in discovering that We have talk
ing Judges as we'll as a talking pTeSi-
dent. il will be admitted that the in
cidcnt is profoundly Illustrative If
! Justice Brewer. although he wears the
highest judicial robe and is under
special obligation to neutrality. could
mot keep from his audience signs that
his Indignation is boiling over, it is
mot surprising that railway presidents
and others important in the business
world are unable to prevent out
breaks The lava below must be
. churuing pretty violently when it
breaks even through the reserve Of a
- supreme courr Justice and leads him
10 a freedom OF utterance opposed tc
rh. Judicial tradition.
Justice Brewer freely recognizes
Ihat Jhe Ten Commandment have ap
Ipucabii,y 10 public afairS-which
heinz interpreted. means that dishon
aSty is dishonesty whether practicef
by n" big or little But he also rec
D iognizeS that the Golden Rule has ap
iplicability TO pubic affairs-which
p being interpreted means that the peo
pie should not apply 10 the big COrpoT
u aiionE standards and punishment
that they have no Intention Of apply
ing To themselves. Many more penpl'
W than four weeks ago now spe tina
while the Ten Commandments ar
sul 10 be- c)ung 10 it is worth whil'
D also 10 pay respect 10 the Colder
Rule This not altogether from alrru
. listic motives. but from very seltisl
ones. The rebound that has COm'
from smashing corporations has TO
, been agreeable. SO far as has beet
observed. no dividends have Yet come
To the public from the Lands fine an'
. things like il. The men ont Of a JOB
or who fear to be out of job. woul,
perhaps be willing 10 go back 10 th'
dense iniquity OF pre-ROOsevelJisu
days. If it can be truly said that un
- righteousness is never to be tolerat
ed. IL may also be said that genera
II poverty makes for general unright
eousness. Something must be the mat
= ter with a given reform when the pre-
> liminary step toward 1t is the untitled
larder and when il is ushered in b.
Y beRtinGs on empty dinner pals
- New York Times.