The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1908-12-09

economic and social philosophy and
for peaceful progress Of our people
during the twentieth century We shall
owe most Ia the Judges who hold 10
twentieth century economic and social
philosophy and not to a long ontgfoWn
philosophy. which was itself the pro-
duct of primitive economic conditions
OF course n judges views on progress
I've social philosophy are entirely
second in Importance To his possession
OF high and fine character, which
means the possession of such clement
airy virtues as honesty. courage, anu
fairmindedness. The Judge who owes
his election To pandering To demagogie
sentiments or class hatreds and pre-
JUDGES, and the judge who owes either
his election or his appointment to the
money or the favor of a great cor
poration. are alike unworthy to sit on
the bench, are alike traitors To the
people; and no profundity Of legal
learning. or correctness of abstract con-
viction on questions of public policy,
can serve as an Offset to such short
comings. But il is also true that judges,
ike executives and legislators. should
hold sound views on the questions of
public policy which are of vital in
terest 10 the people.
The courts hold a place of peculiar
and deserved sanetity under our form
OF government. Respect for the law
Is essential to the Dermanence of our
institutions: and respect for the law is
largely conditioned for the courts. 1t
Is an onense against the Republic TO
respect. save for the gravest reasons
ana in the most carefully guarded
manner. Our judges should be held in
peculiar honor: and the duty of re-
spectful and truthful comment and
criticism. which should be binding
when We speak of anybody should be
especially binding when we speak of
them. On an average they stand above
any other servant of the community
and the greatest Judges have reached
the high level held by those few great
est patriots whom the whole country
delights 10 honor. But We must face
the fact that there are wise and unwise
Judges. just as there are wise and I'M
wise executives and Legislators. When
president or n governor behaves i'm
properly or unwisely, the remedy is
easy. for his term Is short; the same
Is true with the legislator. although
not to the same degree. for he is one
of many who belong to some given
Legislative body. and IL is therefore less
easy To fix his personal responsibility
With Judge. who. being human, is
also likely To err. but whose tenure
is for life there is no similar way of
holding him to responsibility. Under
ordinary conditions the only forms of
pressure to which he is in any way
are, public opinion, and the
action of his fellow Judges. 1t is the
last which Is most Immediately effect |
i've. and to which we should look for
the reform of abuses. Any remedy !
applied from without is fraught with |
TiSh 1t Is Tar better from every stand |
point. that the remedy should come /
from within. In no other nation In inc |
world do courts WELD such vast and |
Tar reaching power as in the United
the courts as n whole should exercise |
this power with the rarsighted wis
dom already shown by those Judges |
who scan the future while they act in
the present. Let them exercise this
great power not only honestly and
bravely, but with wise insight into the
needs and fixed purposes of the people.
so that they may do justice and work
equity. 50 that they may protect all
persons in their rights and vet break
Town the barrier of privilege which is
the foe of right