Year: 1879

Enrfaiiis Court shalt be composed
OF men not only eminent for learn
ing and ability, but of unguestlon-
able integrity. The bar of this
State furnishes ample material for
such a Court, and any well.inform-
ed citizen could easily select seven
men from the legal fraternity to
constitute Court, which would
not only secure the public conf
dence but would take rank amongst
the ablest Courts in the United
States. But in making the selec-
ton he would have to divest him.
self Of all party prejudices, and look
only to tho qualifications OF the


men, without reference to party af-
filiations. 1t remains to be seen


whether the people of the State are
equalito the task of performing this
high public duty in a judicious and
sensible manner, or whether the


whole business is to BIZ left in the
hands Of political hacks and pot
house politicians, as is the usual
custom. We are soon to have four
State Conventions, viz: the Work.
ingmen's, the New Constitution
party's, the Republican and Dem
Ocratic; and it is understood that
each of them propose to nominate
straight ticket for all the State Of


fees, including Judges of the Su-


preme Court. IT is difficult to con-
ceive of anything more ludicrously
absurd or more flagrantly SUBJ
versive of sound government
than the selection of the Judges of
a Supreme Court because they be-
long to this or that political party.
No right thinking man will deny
that the high office of Judge ought
to be wholly removed from the
murky atmosphere of party politics;
and in view of this universally con-
ceded fact, submit to the State
Conventions which are soon to as
semble, whether it is not their duty,
In the nomination of candidates for
State officers, to take those for
Judges of the Supreme Court out of
the domain of party politics, and to
nominate the best men without ref
erence to their party affiliations. If
the Workingmen's, the Republican
and Democratic Conventions could
agree upon a ticket for Judges of
the Supreme Court, composed of
able and unexceptionable men,
without reference to their politics,
1t would not only be certainly
elected, but we should have Court
which would do honor to the State,
command the public confidence
and prove great blessing to the
people. If these conventions could
be prevailed upon to adopt this
course, it would be hailed not only
here, but everywhere, as q striking
illustration of the intelligence of
our people aud of their capacity for
self-government. 1 have omitted
from this category, the convention
of the new Constitution party, be-
cause the foundation stone on which
that party is to be built up. is the
proposition that no one is fit to 60
upon the bench who did not vote
for the new Constitution; and so
narrow platform as this is wholly
inconsistent with the programme l
have suggested. But the other
conventions are not confined with
in such narrow limits, and all that
I propose is that they mutually
agree to take the Judges of the Su-
pieme Court out of the domain of
party politics and to continue their
contest as to the other offices in the
usual manner. In making these
suggestions, 1 am quite certain /
am only expressing the views Of
the intelligent men Of all parties.