New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-16
I PARTING WORD.

4 PARTING WORD.
Well il might have been worse There's al
ways comfort in that philosophic reflection The
LEGISLATURE now in It's last hours might have done
more for the cause of good government ana lni-
niclpal reform than it has hut ii might have
done much less and it might also have done
some things that would have been very serious
hindranccs 10 reform which il RETAINED from
doing Let us be grateful for the good that has
been accomplished ard for the ills we have cs-
capped and with renewed courage and hope pre-
pare for a renewal OF the battle which Is always
on and never ended between what makes Tor
righteousness and the allied forces arrdycG
against it, 1t was not unnatural that the results
Of the election last November. unexpected rs ihcy
were in very large measure claicd the advocates
Of municipal reform TO an unusual ana possibly
unreasonable degree. In the glow OF the triumph
all needed reforms seemed already secure. We
had only TO wait for the representatives, Whoih
we had honOrcd with our confidence ana Dur
dened with the responsibility Of executing our
mandate 10 frame our aspirations III legislation
and put in operation in administration the proc
csses and methods for which in a general way
we had signifed our desire. Looking back over
the intervening period 1t Is obvious that we were
too much elatcd with victory, too sangune Of I'm
mediate results and that we did not sufficiently
consider either the pcrplexitics Of the situation.
the complex motives Of the men who had brought
about the result or the perversities which are
inevitably encountered in any cndeayor TO formu-
late abstract principles in a concrete policy.
Undeniably the present Legislature has not
fully answered the expectations Of the great body
Of voters who elected it. Ii has hesitatcd and
halted over the passage Of bills which there was
never any doubt that the vast majority OF hon
est citizens desired and believed TO be necessary
to insure effective reforms in this city. And the
belief is general that the purpose with which the
passage of these bills has been delayed has not
been an honest one. There are also good grounds
for the belief that in all the proceedings OF the
Legislature in connection with bills that have
been defeated. those which have been passed, and
those which have been delayed and tinkcred in
one way and another, the end and aim and the
supreme desire have been, not so much 10 promote
the general good or respond 10 the popular wish
indeed. 10 put Il on a lower plane. not so much
to build uD the Republican party and strengthen
it in public conidcnce-as To advance the inter
css Of a faction and sustain the waning fortunes
Of a corrupt and unprnciplcd leader. The pub
lie and official record Of the Legislature furnishes
proof of this sufficient for any unpreiudced mind,
place it beyond doubt. The responsibility for
This distraction disgrace it is-rests primarily
| uDon the Legislature. 1t has shown from the
beginning a disposition 10 paltcr with the people
who elected H. and so far as II could to deceive
and betray them They will be held to that
| sponslbillty, and eventually pay the penalty in
the forfeiture of public confidence. But back Of
them sits and has sat during the whole session,
the slippery private citizen who, without official
responsibility, IS more responsible than any or
all Of them for the miscarriages and failures for
which they will he blamed. with him the Re
| publican party has an account 10 settle
| Meantime let us take comfort in having gained
something for good government and reform. The
Power Of Removal act for which 1t may he said
we are almost solely indebted TO the sicadfast-
ness and determination of Governor Morton, has
already brought forth good fruits, and still more
may be expected from the operation Of the Magls-
| traes law in the immediate future. With a
public-sprlted and energetic Police Commission
and a clean and upright bench Of Police Magis-
tratcs we may look for something approaching
Il revolution in the methods Of enforcing law and
administering justice in this town. We are apt
To lose sight Of the great good accomplished al
ready and the greater reforms initiated under
| the legislation Of last winter, In our disappOnt-
ment and chagrin at the failure Of some Of our
| hopes and expectations. This Legislature has
not been exceptionally wise. patriotic or honest,
| but II has not BEEN on The other hand exccp-
! tionally bad Let us be thankful for that And
! II for the good that II has done we are more in
dcbtcd 10 the sieadfast devotion 10 principle Of
| Governor Morton aud The sturdy common sense
Of Mayor Strong than 10 any disposition IN The
| Legislature Itself 10 do right, why then let ~
be grateful that II was In some measure sus-
ccptible 10 good influences. aud 10 some extent
accepted the counscs Of honest men instead Of
following thc lead of u dlscrcdllcd and rrcspon.
sbc party Boss, On behalf Of the honest Re
publlcans Of both city and State The TRIBUNE
thanks the Legislature for what Il has done 10
promote reform. ms well M for what Il hns nb.
stained from doing 10 obstruct II. and sends its
| best wishes with lts members into the Obsctirity
which many Of them have done 80 much 10 de-
serve. And on the same behalf Il proffers crate.
ful and unstlnted thanks to Governor Morton for
the admirable manner In which he has stood for
righteousness and morality and his party's honor.