New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-28
FLOUER AND SHEA.

Governor Flower Is trying hard to please
Senator Murphy. Nobody has denounced the
murder of Robert Ross at the polls in Troy III
more vigorous and fitting terms than the Gov
ernor. That is his way. He has constantly Oh
hand n choice assortment OF noble scntllnehts.
They formerly gave considerable satisfaction 10
the people of the state who liked to think that
they had a robust Chief Magistrate and were
inclined TO pardon his vulgarity in consldera-
ton of his buntneSs. But unlapply, 'hey
have discovered that the Governors most vlrtu
Gus uttcranccs are intended for publication only
and not as n guarantee of good falth. Anu
so when he began to talk in the familiar strain
Of honest Indignation about the muricr OF hoD
crt Ross and promised to exhaust his Official
resources in helping to bring the guilty 10 JUS
tice, though they hoped that he had Deeh
shocked into sincerity by that atrocious CRIME
they recalled the past and feared that he was
merely shamming. We shared the common ap-
prchcnsion but preferred to offer all the en-
couraccnent we could. 1t was n mistake, but
the motive was good.
Evidence of the mistake was not long uc-
lavcd The Committee of One Hundred NJ
their first interview with Governor Flower, dls-
covered that though they had all lHs confidence
and sympathy in their determination To insure
a resoute and thorough prosecution, the par
tcular thing which they wanted him TODD ana
deemed essential was the very thing which he
couldn't quite see his way clear to doing. lie
regretted of course that circumstances over
which he had no control compelled him TO sug-
cest another method Of procedure, bnt he was
convinced that he had no alternative More
over. perhaps his way would prove to be me
best way after all. In any case, they might
rely upon his fullest cooperation and command
his services at any time.
Yesterday the same Committee of One Hun
drcd. men Of all parties divided on most public
questions but united in detcstation OF an odious
crime and in n firm purpose to have 1t justly
punished. went to call on the Governor again
at the Executive Chamber, to urge him TO au-
thoriZe the appearance Of the Attorney-ieneral
before the Grand Jury and to withdraw the con
ditions which practically leave the Distrct-At-
torncy's office In control Of the prosecution.
They got as far as the ante-chamber. There
the Governors private secretary met them and
refused TO let them 90 further. The Governor
he explained would receive their memorial but
he would not receive them. His time was yal'i-
able: he could not afford to waste il in listening
to stump speeches; there was no use in their
waiting: they had no right Of access to the Gov
prnOr winch ne WIS DOullu 10 I'NoSiIHc' III
fact they were obstructing public business, and
every one of them was subject to Indictment
for a msdcncanor SO spoke the private secre-
tary taking his message direct from his master,
and turned the committee into the street.
Is BAT" Shea, then. whom the Coroners Jury
has found guilty Of the murder Of Robert Ross
and whom the Grand Jury is about TO take In
hand-is he so dear to Governor Flower and to
,.,rl. nvnn tn Nnr-
phy himself that they cannot much as toll
crate the presence OF reputable citizens whose
zeal threatens his safety: Oh. no. They are
not fond of Shea. They regret the recklessncss
which has produced such awkward consc-
ouenccs They would like to have him snuely j
under ground If he could be put there quietly.
1t is the trial that they dread. not conviction.
For the trial is sure to involve so many things
and persons. And II was because the Com
mittee of One Hundred would have been obliged
TO remind the Governor Of that fact that he
could not prevail upon himself 10 see and hear
them. For they were going to tell him that
the political conditions which Murphy has sedu
lousy arranged in Troy, conditions which en-
join violence and fraud at the polls and facli
tate murder; conditions of which Roswell =.
Flower is one of tho bencnciarics and Robert
Ross one Of the victims-that these conditions
cannot be properly investigated by men who
have been rewarded with public office for help
ing TO create them. memorial setting forth
this fact is all that the Governor felt equal to
confronting. And so he told his private sccrc
tary to turn away the citizens who had come
to present and reinforce ito turn them away
with insults and impudent chatter about indct-
mcns.
And This lOu1-,nouthpd loV-mindcd chicken
hearted Governor Of the State Of NcwYork |
actually expects a denomination and hopes to
be reelected,