The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-27
An Error Corrected.

Inere Is an error anOaJ ABOUT uONernOr
elect MORTON, which had better be corrected
at once. 1t is that he is affected with over
%amiability, and that, consequently, he may
be suspected of possessing that most dan
gerous and most unhappy Of all traits, plia-
bility. This error, which is an error of
sheer ignorance, entertained only by those
who do not know Governor MORTON, or who
have not had the opportunity Of becoming
acquainted with his character and career,
was put in print last week by the TtCcntich
Century in these words:
LEW =. MORTON, newly elected Governor OF New
York. has an ineIhaustibie store OF amiabnity which
viii give a distinct tone to his administration. We
have treated ourselves to all types OF government in
this demosratic land OF ours, but an amiable sort will
be n pleasing variety. Let us hope that amiabiiity is
not like kissing. and that absolute impartislity In Its
distribution will be the order OF the day"
We must suppose that this funny error
was first propagated by some person who
formed his opinion by looking at the por-
traits of our distinguished Republican fel-
low citizen, all Of which bear an expression
of amiability that is very attractive. But
we warn all people, and especially all poll
ticians, Legislators, committees, and Office
seekers, and more particularly the Com
Z VI " Shih bNiAS - hi'
error. They may be kept out Of scrapes by
obtaining a larger knowledge of the charac-
ter Of the Governor elect.
Governor MORTON is an amiable man, but
the whole of his mental equipment is not
summed up in that saying, not by many
characteristics He possesses other quail
ties than amiability, and some of them are
not less valuable than that one. He is a
man of thought and culture, Of judgment
and rigor. As a successful business man of
large experience upon two continents, as n
politician long familiar with public affairs,
as American Minister to one of the great
powers of Europe, rs a m Of Con
gress for two terms, as Vice-Presi-
lent of the United States and pre-
siding officer Of the Senate, as the owner
OF a model farm and the raiser of fine
cattle, as a Union Lacquer of thirty years
standing, as a New Yorker who has had
dealings with all kinds of people for a life
time, he has acquired a pretty thorough
knowledge OF the world, and of human ma
ture, and OF the larger questions and inter
ests which concern mankind. He is amia-
BILE, truly, be it said to his credit but he is
also sagacious, discreet, steadfast, practical,
and full Of knowledge. 1t would be a smart
man who could pull the wool over his eyes.
1t would be a strong man who could bend
his will when once il is fixed. 1t would be
IA politician shrewder than his old friend
PLAT, who could tell him anything new
about politics. 1t would be only a man more
largely acquainted with public affairs who
could enlarge his acquaintance with them.
He is a Vermonter by birth mark that! He
Is the son of a Congregational minister;
mark that, too. He was a boy in a Yankee
country store when sixteen, and soon after
ward he started u general store of his own,
and that, mind you, in New Hampshire, the
Granite or Old Granite State, where wit and
wisdom iOat in the air. We can give our
word for il, that, while the folks up there
may be amiable enough at times, they are
not usually more pliable than most other
white folks.
Certainly, most certainly, Mr.. MORTON,
the Governor elect of New York, is anna
BILE, but you have not rounded him up
when you have said that about him. We
have not a doubt that the Hon. WILLIAM l..
STRONG, lately of Ohio, but now of this city,
is aware that the Governor has other traits
besides amiability. He would not be where
he is II he had not. The man with but hat
single trait could never run a New Hamp-
shire general store and make it pay, nor
could he do all the other good deeds that
the Governor elect has done in the course
of his lifetime.
1t is for the information Of the politicians,
the committees, and the other people Of the
State that we mention these things in cor
rection OF an error which can do no harm TO
Governor MORTON, but may prove Ian
gerous to any one who shall try to gain ad-
vantage by il.