New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-02

THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
The State of New-York is not far from that
happy stage in which people is said to have
no history. The administration of Goyeinor
Robfnson's predecessor covered time
of turmoil and agitation i'll the state.
The last great organization of pub
lie plundeprs was struggling for its life,
and the occupant Of the Executive chair.
while carving on contest with it, was
rising into greater prominence every day as
the coming man of destiny in the Democratic
party. Governor Tilden's messages were
addressed to the Nation rather than to
the State and were read with eager interest
in every quarter of the Union. But
times have changed. When Governor Tildcn
retired from Office he drew National politics
and Presidential issues away with him, and
Albany, which had been a great centre of
action and discussion, sank back 10 the sober
level of an ordinary State Administration. Gov
ernOr Robinson is plain man. and no POLITICIAN
if we may judge his ability on that score by his
failure even to influence, though not Tor
want of effort, a recent Democratic Con
vention held under his very nose. II he
has political ambitions he has not Published
them, and the people give him credit Tor
desire to administer the Government faithfully
and we'll leaving the future to take care oi
itself. Meanwhile the State is on the sure
road to a prosperity that shall be free from
debt and NAV even look forward To
the happy time when the Legislature
shall have little to do, and the depart
nenfs shall be more honest and even more
droysy than ever The last OF the Rings
has been swept ont Of existt nee. and
must. unless its luck improves, disGorgc
its plumber. The prisons are alicady
transformed by single hand and will
soon be on paying basis, while the
Governor has nominated. on the first day OF
the session, a similar head for the canals. The
State is almost out of debt, its taxes are grow
ing lighter every year, and every "ear ITS Diff
ferent departments are coming nearer to
business basis.
Still the Governor finds many subjects to
discuss in his second annual Message, aHd
makes many recommendations. He finds
that while the season Oh the canals has
been the most prosperous for the boatmcn
in n long time, ii has also been the most adj
vantagc0us. in many respects, for the state.
The expenditures have not been so low IN
many years, and yet III many years the canals
have not been in such perfect condition, and
he hazards the prediction that, u1dcr SUI
perntendcnt of Public Works, the expenses can
be reduced TO nchalf of the low figure OF the
past year. But, perhaps, the part OF the
Message of most interest TO Newly orkers -
that in which the Governor discusses the
wrctchcd plight of the City of Ncw-York, with
S9j, 900, 900 of debt piled upon it by legisla-
tive acts for which we did not ask, ana
9. 400 laws enacted for it, which even the
highest courts sometimes cannot reconcile or
understand The Governor carefully rtfrains
from committing himself to the proposed Con-
sttutionai Amendments, but he urges the spG-
cial attention of the Legislature o this most
important topic. suggesting that, II the Amend
ments be not adopted, Il permanent charter,
in the form of n constitution, should be enacted
for the city. comforting upon 1t the right
to govern itself. Governor Robinson has
spoken much-ncedcd word i'll favor
of a right which, it has been found safe
to deny to a city that is greater than many
States though never to Il State itself 1t is to
be feared, however, that the Legislature is too
fond of acting as "a Board of Aldermen and
Assistant Aldermen for the City of New
"York,n as the Message puts it, to relin-
quish the privilege voluntarily; or, in
other words, that the politicians find the
present system the easiest way OF making
Ncw-York City pay the cost of running the
two party machines OF the State.
One recommendation the Governor makes
will attract general attention. lie dis
countenances. most emphatically, the pres
ent system of higher education as al
forded by the common schools, and in
sists that when the state has gwen
its million scholars an education III
the ordinary English branches, 1t has done
all that can be asked of it.
The Message discusses other subjects of
State and local interest. 1t rchearses the labor
troubles and strikes of last year, and pays a
high compliment to the efficiency of the militia.
1t renews a former protest against the compile
ton of that unsightly edifce, the New Capitol,
which has already cost more than the Erie and
Champlain Canals together did, and yet has
not single apartment finished for occupancy.
1t makes distinct recommendation for new
Excise law, and gives the Legislature tho