Robert Wilbur Steele Defender of Liberty

ng for what he believed to be the best interests of the people of the state and that he was performing conscientiously the highest duty of an upright judge in declaring, without fear or favor, his honest opinions concerning the great principles that ought to determine all political controversies and to guide all governmental activities. Judge Steele's opinions upon the broad points of public policy, and his appreciation of fundamental principles involved in casual controversies, undoubtedly had an important influence in the final decision of these matters. His powerful advocacy and resolute defense of the cause of the people made him one of the foremost champions of the forces of reform. But his aid to progressive legislation was by no means all his service to the state at this critical time. He was one of the great conservative forces when conservatism was especially needed. His presence in the Supreme Court of the state inculcated respect for that tribunal as a part of the people's government, and demonstrated the way of peaceful amendment as infinitely better than the fatal paths of riot, insurrection, political fraud and extra-constitutional usurpation. It was his mission to prove that the theory of popular self government is neither anarchistic nor disruptive. He voiced no newly discovered or foreign panacea for political ills, but, reverting to the principles laid down by the founders of this government and by the authors of our constitution, he revealed the tr... --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.