Page:Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz, Volume 2.djvu/188

168  Is not the eminence of the station the strongest reason that can be conceived for subjecting the applicant to an examination as to his fitness?

It might there with propriety be asked, who is to examine the candidates for such places as judgeships on the Supreme Bench?

I suppose they would be examined by the board of examiners, the nine, would they not?

I supposed in such a case it would be entirely inappropriate.

Why not, is the question?

For the simple reason that for the highest judicial offices of the Government, if only obeying the voice of decency, every Administration would select only those standing highest in their profession. There are examinations in the Army for a number of grades. We might just as well ask who is to examine a candidate for the position of General-in-Chief.

Would not that reason apply to all offices?

It would not. In the nature of things, it may fairly be presumed that the applicants will exclusively belong to the small class of those who are eminent enough to be mentioned in connection with such places.

The Senator, I presume, has not forgotten that these appointments are for life, and therefore there would be greater necessity of having exactly the right men.

I have certainly not forgotten that. But, on the whole, I think the experience of the people of the United States has been that but very few mistakes in the history of this country have been made in the selection of members of the Supreme Court of the United States. As to the diplomatic officers of the Government, there, I admit, this question might be asked with much greater propriety. But as diplomatic officers of the Government