Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-05
THE OUTGOING ADMINISTRATION.


Governor William Irwin, being about to
'etlre into private life, deserves that some
lote should be taken of the manner ia |
which he, has fulfilled his high trust. We I
have observed his official career sharply, !
stantly, and not seldom jealously. We
have found occasion to criticise and to
csnsure some of his acts We have differed
from him radically and utterly upon all
questions of national politics. But we are
bound in honor to record our opinion that
he has been an honest and able Governor,
and that viewing his administration as
whole, the record Is emphatically credit
able TO him. A man of firm will, at times
tending to obstinacy, he has for the most
part exercised this firmness to repress all
raids upon the treasury, to enforce economy
and efficiency in the administration, and to
discountenanoe all corrupt combinations
Though thorough going partisan, he is
| singularly free from the kind of charges
which toe commonly soil the reputa-
tons Of partisans in Office. He
has naturally favored his own PARTY when
1t was possible, but in few of ks appoint
ments has fitness been subordinated to
political exigencies. His appointment OF
| Mr.. v hite as Bank Commissioner was un-
questionably the nest serious mistake o.
his administration. twas entirely indie.
| feasible, in facts but even after saying
all Shat can be said inreprehension of that
selection, it will have to be admitted that
the record in which such blunder is con,
fessedly the worst feature, cannot be re
sarded otherwise than as a sound one.
Governor Irwin has upheld the dignity Of
ISthe Office, and has shown steadily oon-
/ scientious determination to do right, &C.
cording to his lights. He has never beer
amenable to demagogic influences, save in
| the one case already sufficiently referred
to. He manfully put away from
him several opportunities which weaker
men would have utilized to secure ar
ephemeral popularity. He has never
shrunk from criticism when his mind was
to his own convictions with quiet persist
ence, even IN the face of strong opposi
ton. Hisfoibles and his few lapses have
been enough paraded, but it is the toe
general practice to deal lightly with the
claims of retiring officials to the esteem O.
their fellow citizens "The evil that mer
''do lives after them; the good is oft in
TERED with their bones might be sad
with as mach truth over retiring Gov
ernor as over a dead great man. 1t i:
therefore fitting that we, who have beer
foremost in censure when the oc
casion demanded it, should be moi
less liberal in praise when the
need has been honestly earned, and
it is special qualification to us to feel that
we are in no danger of being suspected Of
tendency to adulation when we deliber
ately record the opinion that Ca1ifor
MIA has had few better Governors than
William Irwin. He can retire to pri
vate life cheered by the consciousness
of an arduous duty well and faithfully
performed, and the people over whom he
has ruled will owe him a,debt of gratitude
SO long as he lives, because he has sus
tanned the high office to which he was
called, with honor and probity, and be-
cause he has set, in careless and profit
gate age, an example of purity and fidelity
calculated to strengthen and elevate al
within the scope of its influence.