New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-27
TEE eogERYops CONVICTIONS"

TIE GOVERNORS CONFlCIiVHS.
mGeutIemen,n said crossroads candidate
for Congress. in concluding his speech accept
ING the nomination, eve expressed to you my
sneere convictions in regard to the ieaoing
public questions now before the country
win only add that II they don't suit they can
be changed. The remark might have oeen
n,ada Nv David B. Hill, for he has repeatedly
shown that his " convictions" are OF On acOon',
modasins sort. They can be changed 10 meeO
any emergency. As member OF the Assem-
bly, Mr. Hill opposed uniform law lot Sne gov
eminent Of cities. His convictions" were
AGAINST the uniform principle. As Governor
he vetoed an important reform bill chiefly on
the ground that his " convictions" forbade MN
TO sign measure whose provisions Were 1oC ~, 70
be uniformly applied. In 1885 he killed bus
making the Register and County Clerk OF hlngs
County sslsried officials but his "conyichonS'
In the premises did not prevent him from ap-
nrovine a bill. sent to him during the Same
session, placing the Clerk Of Erie County on
salary. His "convictions" have rendered Nun
hostile to special legislation-and they nave
also led him to sign number OF special oills'
In short If his convictions fail to suit the
Democratic bosses, whose good opinion he is
hound TO retain at all hazards, they can be and
they are changed.
The Governors latest exploit with his con-
yictions' is emnently worthy OF bis reputaao on
as peerless peanut politician. On MONDAY ne
vetoed a bill providing q registry law for the
city of Fishkill. He gave as ms reasons ior
30 doing that he could not approve oil specla
law for one town, and that :" no reasonable ar
ouu,ent or excusecan be advanced why gen.
ersl registry law should not be enacted. Thus
the public learns what is the spring style Tor
1898 Of the Governors registry convictions"
Now what were his registry convictions so
late az 1882 Did he then regard generai
registry law as desirable thing? Not ut Az
Two years ago bill reached him which ex-
landed the registration system OF New ork
and Brooklyn to all the other cities OF the state
having over 10000 inhabitants. u was an
excellent measure. 1t went through the Legs
latue practically without opposition. Sun the
Democratic bosses thought that il threatened
their supremacy, so in accordance with his
"conyictions,D the Governor knitted II. This
bill.p he wrote in his veto, proceeds upon the
theory that the majority Of voters are dishon-
est For the sake Of possibly preventing .
few dishonest men from voting, this bill would
80 add TO the inconvenience and often to the
expense Of registering as practically to dis
franchise many voters" To compare this veto
with Mondays veto is to demonstrate that the
Governors convictions" would make po'
liticai weathenock Of the first quality.
OF course, Mr.. Hills remarkable change Of
front on the question Of registration decesve'
nobody. The Linson Ballot bill ia the scheme
which he has devised with the aim Of beating
the Saxton bill, and that bogus scheme contains
provision for the general registration Of The
voters throughout the State. He sdspts hi
"conyictionsp to the situation. He Is that sor'
Of a Governor. What can self-respecting Dem
| oorats think Of such an official leader?