New-York tribune., 1890-04-03


practical determination oi minsiraiion 81 govern
,he con.titntonality Il This mcnt shall never know
hill such determination incy give my assent T.
WAS desired by the ,Nccu. ans lii the effect ot
tive I'm order that the bin which is to d,franch-c a
might become a law, II Dc. single honest voter no
clarcd f. be in harmony matter how humble or un
with the constitution Of lciicrd be- miy 10. upon
this state whom tie 'on'''N'''n ''"
fcr. the right Of sui'raec
This is a bad hIcal, bat II l. not diili'uI' 10
understand how ne Governor came 10 make II.
When he sat down 20 write hi, message he was
thinking Of the great non partisan reform
sentiment Of the State upon which be proposed
10 rramplc. Naturally enough. therefore with
the hope Of cscapnc the popular condemnation
he was anxious 10 produce the impression iha'
Il Inc Judges Of the Court of Appcals-no' ac'
ing in their official capacty-had rendered n
decision binding upon no one. hut favorable T."
the bill. he would have signed j.. hni "hcn
he came 10 finish his message b" lost >lGht "i
the people and fixed hi, mind on the Demo
cratic machine. the Democratic bosses the
Democratic po'hOu,c politicians. II was new
table that. with these gentry before his eyes. he
should declare that "ncYcr knowingly would
he sign any such measure ~ the ~aAion hill
There is good material here for . striking
cartoon First. We seq \cw- York Chief IN
ccurivc in hi, character of the truly good l'r.
Jokyll shaking his head rcpioachIully a the
Legislature. and begging the populac" - be-
licyc that. having no pride OF opinion. he Nclrns
10 place himself ~ 80 much yielding clay IN
the hand, OF judicial poi'cr~. second. We see
this same Governor. the wonderful iran,forma
ton act having been performed. in his char
actcr of the abandoned Hyde >lappng III.
Murphy ON the LacI, and vinking cloWcnfly
at other Democratic chiefs while he registers
an oath that be viii never. knowingly assist
the cause Of genuine ballot reform.
There i another expression in this veto mos
sage which, taken in connection with former
ultcrancc OF his. also conyictS David j. Hi
Of being a dcmagOguc, and 4 sham. lie says
that he would chccliully approve" Of a bill
providing. among other things, for general
registration of voters throughout the state.
Sticking pin in " "chceriully approNc.' let MS
turn TO the Governors disposition Of bill
which was sent to him by the Legislature III
1887, providing for the extension OF the regis
traton system Of Ncw-NOrk and Brooklyn a.
all the other cities Of the state Dld he " cheer
fully approve" this measure? Not he; he
vetoed it, his excuse for 80 doing being that
"this bill proceeds upon the theory that the
majority Of voters are dishonest: for the sake
of possibly preventing few dishonest men
from voting this bill would 80 add TO the in
convenience and often TO the expense OF regis
traton as practically TO disfrancbise many hon
est voters 20 the Governor Is on record aS
standing ready 10 approve aye chcerlullN
approve" OF general registration, while at the
same time he dcnounccS il aS a scheme 'piac-
ticay to disfranchiSc many honest voters
and that is something to which he will "ncvcr
knowingly" give his assent.
The next time that Governor Hill feels
prompted to discourse about ballot reform he
would DO well. in view Of the facts which we
have grouped together to keep pulci. lie has
written himself down on tina, subject. rs upon
others involving the public welfare, ALSO
utcly mtruStworhy, a pandcrcr to the worst
clements in the State. 50 long aS he occupies
his present Office the cause Of general progress
in New York cannot hope TO make hcsdway.