The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-02-28

I circuit Judge during two terms, ana
recognizing his complete fitness, we
also invite the attention Of the state
convention to the candidacy Of Hon
Henry w. Seney for the nomination
for Judge OF the supreme court and
declare the belief Of that such nomi-
nation would be most appropriate.
"rhe nominee OF this days con-
vention win, within year, take
the place OF one who, by his great
ability, his courtesy and absolute
integrity has commended himself
to the bar and the people of this
| judicial circuit and we desire to as
sure Judge Caleb Norris that whea
he retires from the bench he re-
tires with the love and affection Of
the people he has so ably and faith
f, fully served.
while a committee consisting Of
Hon. w. b. Richie, W. j. Fry ami
Phil Grow were escorting the next
Judge from the hotel, Judge Norris
was called. and in response gave
the following gem to the conven.
ton:
II thank you, gentlemen of the
convention for this kind recognition.
1t is a compliment to be known
and remembered by so distinguished
a body of men. In addition to the
pleasure of meeting you here, this
occasion affords me opportunity to
thank you and through you the de-
mocracy of the Third Circuit, who
you represent, and indeed, to thank
many OF our republican fellow citi-
zens as well, who gave me a suf-
frage and support in the campaigns
in which have been a candidate
for circuit Judge. know l will be
succeeded by one who is eminently
worthy of every mans regard. l will
leave the criminal bench giving full
respect and confidence and affection
to my colleagues and to those who
have been my colleagues, and to the
members OF the Bar of Northwestern
OHIO. 1t is satisfaction to lay down
the responsibilities of public Office
with consciousness OF having hon.
estly endeavored to discharge each
duty the trust imposes.
The American judiciary is to us
our bulwark Of human repose and
safety. Show me country with a
corrupt judiciary and will show
you a country that needs nothing
other and nothing further to complete
its ruin. God save the people! God
avert the chiamity that awaits
country in which judicial decisions
can be dictated by the executive head
of the nation. and courts induced to
determine mems rights with ear to
the ground.
1T is democracy that judges In
the exercise of their exalted author
,ity. stand above the rlvalries of pol
itics and partisanism. That, while
accessible to all. courts must be In
jfluenced by nobody. That the poor
land the rich, the oppressed and the
oppressor, IL you please, each may
have his rights, whatever they be
accorded to him, without fear and
without favor, and that neither the
one. nor yet the other, be sinned
against by omission or commission.
Such is the democratic idea OF a
court Of justice and its office.
"In the unimpeachable intgrity of
these august tribunals to which the
citizen may appeal, the democratic
party has full faith and teaches us
ithe truth that they are the most COM
Iplete and the most excellent machin-
cry the wisdom of man has ever yet
devised for the preserv; alton OF lib
erty, and for the safety OF state.
Before leave this rostrum, le.
'me adjure. my fellow citizens. that
|you hold fast to the principles OF
democracy. They are older than the
government; they are the foundation
upon which It rests. Do not. | entreat
you, by sophistry or by appeal, be
persuaded that you can spare any of
your liberties. DO not seem by in
difference to ratify any invasion OF
your rights as free men. Be ever
watchful: be ever vigilant. Remember
this, that in the history OF the ma
tions Of the earth no free government
has ever been destroyed by sudden
and successful revolution Their ov-
erthrow has been accomplished and
wrought by changes SO gradual as to
escape the observation OF the negli-
gent citizen. One right after another
was stealthily encroached upon and
stolen from the people, until tyr
anny became entrenched and the man
on horseback appeared. Then, when
jail was lost and when too late. men
whose liberties were gone. looked at
leach other with white faces. ready
to lay aside party differences and
ready to sacrifice their lives to re-
lcover back that which until then they
had not valued and appreciated. Be
IT known that there Is only single
. Istep between the position of citizen
land the condition OF a subject but. my
|countrymen that single step crosses
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