New-York tribune., 1892-01-01
GNTERNOR FLOUER.

Mr.. Roswell p. Flower is destined to achieve
one Of hi; favoritc ambitions to-day by becoming
the Governor of New-N0lk. TIE TRIBUNE
cndoayored TO prevent his election, as a matter
Of principle and duty, and deeply regretted lis
failure and his triumph. We saw no reason to
believe. when he was nominated, that he was
qualified for the Office TO which he aspircd, and
we have seen no reason TO change our mind
since his election. Bat We shall be sincerely
glad to be convinced that we have undcuatcd
bis capacity and determination TO serve the
State. and we promise frankly to acknowledge
our mScOncsption of his talents and purposes
so soon as his official conduct hos convicted Us
Of error Il is the custom Of this journal to op-
pose the nominees Of the Democratic party III
every honorable way to the extent OF It's ability,
but when they have been lawfully put III AL
thorty by tho choice Of tho voters lis desire
invariably is that they may win the cCmmenda-
ton of all good citizens. And unhappy expert
ence shall not dissuadc us now from expressing
the hope that Mr.. Flowers administration will
be pure, wise and efficient. II is no pleasure to
us to see q Democratic Governor conducting his
Office in base and conoempnbe manner, put
TING the public welfare in Icril and his own
party to shame.
4 few years ago Mir. Flowers political ambi-
ton did not look beyond the Governorship.
Circumstances have now brough: a still higher
goal within his vision and possibly within his
reach, and growing confidence in his own
claims and resources enables him 70 contemplate
the a,lrlring prospect with large measure OF
cheorPulness and hope. We may be pardoned
for warning him that this Glit.eling possibility
constitutes one OF his GravoSo dangers. lie does
not need 70 tako our word for it, lie has only
70 look al his predecessor 70 find striking OK
qualification Of the truth For seven wears
Governor Hill has lived in the hope Of being
President. No abuse Of power has seemed 10
him too wanton and 10 tricl, Of opportunity too
low which to his acute but shallow mind APP
paared likely to mako him indispensable to his
party lie has never considered it necessary
10 be, and hence he has never cared to be, a
disinte,csted Chief Magistrate Of all tho people.
He has desired only to be The undiSputed leader
Of his party, and to accomplish that selfish pur-
pose he has eagerly accepted every chance to
attach to himself tho dcbased and venal Gle
ments of society, hoping in the general debauch-
erv of public sentiment to confirm his own
ascendancy.
If Mr. Flower is the generous, spirited,
well disposed conscientious gentleman whom his
best friends describe, the thought OF initiating
such an example must be int0lerable to him.
But no man is incapable Of degenerating rapidly
who Slrrcndem himself to the guidance q q
purely personal ambition. II Mr. Flower de-
votes his energies and his Office to the constuc-
ton Of a political machine, if he spends his time
in mano@lvring for position, and invests his
patronage 50 that tho dividends will accrue to
himself and not TO tho State though he may not
lose all sense Of honor and obligation and sinl;
to the level Of Hill, he will nevertheless surely
forfeit the confidence Of all whose appreciation
is permanently valuable, and in the end lose tho
game He is not man OF such sIperlative skill
and dexterity that he can afford 70 throw away
the advantages Of rspectability and rely eX-
clusvely upon the resources which Satan is al
ways glad to furnish. His only possible chance
Of winning still higher eminence lies in rem
dering patient, faithful, unselhsh service where
he now is. We hope, indeed, that he does not
need TO be inspired by any sordid motive to take
tha5 course. We shall look at his public acts
with sincere and strong desire 10 discover in
tsom the evidence, NOT of 4 shreWd and coyctous
impulse, but Of firm and lofty purpose to he
the coed Governor Of great Sratc.
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