The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-01-21

local questions.
Governor Abbett's inaugural Adj
dress.
Governor Abbett's inaugural adj
dress to the Legislature, which we
grint in full today, is a remarkable
E55te paper. Its force, its compre-
: Nnsivfness, and the perspicuity
"a iS expression; its high n
bj1stice its patriotic ring and
~ courageous assertion of opinion,
entitle it to rank with the ablest
documents presented to the public by
the statesmen of our day.
tits mainly devoted 10 two great
tions, the two which are most promi-
nent before the people of New Jersey,
the two which constituted the issues
of the recent campaign, and the two
in which the prosperity of the people
and the success OF our free institutions
are most deeply involved. These are
the matter of State finance and that
of ballot reform.
It is needless to say that Governor
Abbett's handling of the former topic
is that of a master. He carefully col
lates the figures furnished from official
sources, and brings out with startling
clearness the danger that overhangs
our credit. But he is not a mere
alarmist. No sooner does he show
the peril than he indicates the
49,. =
means by which it may be averted
and the honor and progress of the
State may be maintained. lie is fer
tile in expedients, and each one he
supports with an array OF argument
which carries conviction.
His treatment OF the railroad sec
ton of the question is especially
admirable. 1t is at once firm and
moderate. He is uncompromising in
his demand that full justice be
done the general taxpayer, and
yet he is scrupulous that NJ wrong
shall be inf .cted on the great organ
izations which are so important an
element in the greatness Of the State.
As respects the ballot reform ques-
ton, we regret to say We are not
wholly in accord with Governor Abb
bett, And yet we cannot limit our adj
miration for the manly and courageous
frankness with which he expresses
convictions. We respect his attitude
upon this subject all the more because
we feel that it is his own opinion as a
49, - ~. ~ax1lsa af1aur
he is speaking and not the
opinion or the principles of
a political party. For we be-
lieve that many Democrats. like
ourselves, disagree on high grounds
OF principle and public policy from
some of the conclusions that Governor
Albeit has reached.
In his demand for a secret ballot,
surrounded with all proper safeguards,
we are with the Governor, heart and
soul, and SO, we believe is the entire
Democratic party. In many of the de-
tails of the system which he proposes,
we heartily coincide. But we think
he has made too many concessions to
those who are mere theorists and ex-
tremists on this matter of ballot re-
form, and We fear that some b
the proposals which he endorses con.
template al impairment of personal
and political liberty not in keeping
with our national spirit and institu'
tions. 1t is true Governor Albeit
recommends certain notifications Of
the s~o-called Australian system, which
reduce these evils, but We fee
convinced that a simpler plan
Of reform might be devised which
would do all the good sought to be ac-
complished and which would be free
from the defects we speak of. All
least Governor Albeit covers his Re
publican maligners with shame and
confusion, since, in his advocacy Of