New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-15
1T FONT DO, GOTERNOR.

When his Satanic Majesty was out or health
he felt strongly inclined to monastlc lre
Governor Flowers utterances on the subject or
non-partsanshp convince us that his political
condition is giving him considerable anxiety.
This is theOnlv theory on which the Governors
wandering TO what he has heard described rs
civic virtue can be explained. Scarcely day
goes by unmarked by an Executive denuncla-
ton of the Republican majority in the Legis-
lature for its endeavOrs to turn rascally or in
. competent Democrats out Of offices which they
have misused. In his present mood the Gov
ernor so utterly abhors partlsanship that he
cannot tolerate the thought Of permitting IL 10
be tempered with. His feeling on the subject
Is so intense that he would not allow the Tam
many Park Board to be converted into n bl-
partisan commission OF two members. In the
same way he was revoltcd by the proposition
that new Board OF Trustees Of the Brooklyn
Bridge 10 be appointed by the Republican
Mayor of Brooklyn and the Democratic Mayor
of New-York should replace the present Board
created and controlled by Croker and Nc
Laughlin.
The Governor SAYS in his most resentful man
ner that such legislation Is dastardly"; that at
is nothing but an audacous grab for political
spoils": that 1t is unworthy OF the lawmaking
power" and that there Is not even sem
blance Of justification for IT.. The Governor
ought to have stopped there; not for the sake OF
dccency. which he had already violated, but for
the sake Of safety, which required n careful
avoidance Of details 1t was a fatal blundcr 10
add that every alleged cause OF complaint
against the management OF the Bridge took
Mace prior 10 the law of 1893, under which the
present trustees were appointed" for that Is not
true Here are some of the facts which the
Governor saw fit 10 forget: The present trlls-
tees maintained for n considerable time the
abominable system Of their predecessors In CIV
ing the collection OF Bridge rentals on per
centage 10 an outsider who kept no books. ana
made no regular and Ineligible accounting.
They are charged with failing 10 protect the
public interest IN the requirement or lana
around the Brooklyn terminus, SO That 'hcir
acquisitions In behalf Of the public have cost
several times their real value They are con
demned by their obvious neglect OF the New
York terminal problem. They are solely re
sponsbe for the undsciplincd. insOlent and
incapable police force OF the Bridge They are
guilty by common knowledge and consent OF
operating the great thoroughfare across the
river I'm a slipshod and inefficient manner. thus
defrauding the people Of comforts and ndvan-
tages which they paid an enormous sum to
secure The Governor talks with n loud pre-
tepce of Indignation about the partsanship or
a bill which aimed 10 replace these unfit and
discrcdited trustees with successors OF both
parties who would have done their duty. AND
he calls 1t non-partlsanshp to keep In power the
creatures OF two moribuDd Democratic rings.
Obviously. the Governor does not feel we'll
When he was, or at least imagined himself to
be- In vigorous political health. he thought moth
ing else so pleasant and so effective means Of
keeping up that condition as the steady APP
prevail OF legislative measures devised by Shee-
han and Murphy and Croker for the promotion
Of a selfish and fraudulent tyranny. The Bills
for example, which compelled the people OF
Buffalo to smash the ILeutenantGovernors ma
chine, and the bill which Tammany used to
steal two elections in this city, were signed by
Governor Flower with great satisfaction AT
present he feels that he Is In decline. He
fears that lac Is not going to get a renomna-
ton. and that, If he does, a second term Will
be denied him. But he wants both terribly,
and in his pursuit of them he Is so silly as TO
imagine that he can fool the people to his own
advantage into confusing independence with the
rankest kind Of craftsmanship. 1t won't do.
Governor there Is no illusion when you are try
ing to play the role which the devil so soon
ira1o Of