The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-10-08
Then and Now, or John w. Griggs'
Two Faces.

Then and Vow, or John w. Griggs'
Two Faces.
John w. Griggs was elected to the As
semDIy from Passaic county in Novem-
Der. 1875. This was just twenty golden
years age. Hehad already attained eon-
siderable prominence in his own county.
His election launched him in State poll
ties. He made his mark in his first ses-
sion. the Legislature of 1875. Ever since
then he has been one of the most con-
spicuous men in the State.
When a man has been twenty years in
public life. the people are justified in
thinking that they know him. They
ave a right to. think that his public ac-
lions and u~tterances throughout that
long -period-haif an ordinary lifetime
are fairly indicative of his opinions and
principles, and constitute safe premises
upon which to predicate his future
course.
If they are deceived in this assumption,
ii they find at the end of twenty years,
that they have not learned the man at all,
that he has been wearing a cloak, a
mash, and that his words and his actions
have been almost invariably at variance
with his true opinions and ideas, they
have. it would seem. a right to say that
the man is a hypocrite and a villain,
and deserves no credenee or confidence
whatever from the people whom he has
misled.
Now we will not say that Candidate
-Griggs is a hypocrite and a villain, we
viii leave his reputation in his own
hands and in the hands of his friends.
But we confess to much surprise and
some grief at the spectacle which he
affords in the cross-lights of his speech
on Governor Green's veto in 1888 and his
speech at Hoboken last Wednesday,; of
his lodging a vote on a race rack bill
in 1887; of his serving as counsel for
the bookmakers' combine for many years,
denounce the Democracy for race track
legislation. We are surprised-and pain
ed-to see him fight with the bitterness
of a paid advocate, at n time, to pro-
tect the railroads from bearing any
share of the public burden, and yet when
he becomes a candidate claim that he
has always been in favor of imposing
taxes on them. We are panied and sur
prised to know hat year after year he
has argued and fought at Trenton to
protect the water ~moHopolies from inter-
ference by the State, and now to hear
him proclaim from the housetops in loud,
though very vague, tones that he fayors
the protection of the watersheds" for
the benefit of the people.
Now we ask, is it credible that Mr..
Griggs has been misunderstood SO long?
Is it possible that he has so falsifed
himself for money and party for twenty
years, that the people have, without ex-
ception, regarded him as a blue nose in
matters of morals and a monopolist in
economics, while in reality he was lone
III Liz CA dP ~ ddlO 4 1dSGI
and beer tippler, and a kind of Henry
George and Joseph P. Mcdonnell all
rolled into one? If he has, wha is 10
be his future course? Can we rely on
play in the future, or is he likely to slip
back under the malign influences which
have so caused him to wrong himself in
the past?
THE Estate Gazette" this morning
makes the remarkable discovery that
Chancellor MeGill was an unknown and
inexperienced young man" when he was
appointed by Governor Green to his pres
ent position. This is perhaps not a sur
prising statement from the sprightly
young gentleman from Red Dog or Back
Woods or some such place in the far.
far West. The ebullitions of the "Ga-
~zette,s'' Western talent contribute ths
humor to this campaign.
Persons who have been longer in the
State have an idea that Mr.. McGil was
a figure of quite some note before he
became Chancellor. It is true he was
some years younger than he is now. In
this he differs from the Red Dog Editor
of the Gazette" who grows younger
and greener-every day. Blu he had held
just one or two public offices of honor
n responsibility, and he had made nc
small record for ability, probity and
courage. The Fargo and Live Oak oracle
should induce Ed" sackett to hurry
up his history Of the State so he car
read it and catch up with the times.
Register todayi
There IS no house to nous canvas.
There is no copying the lists. A-
The law demands PERSONAL REGIS.
TRATTONi
The polls are open today from 1 T. M
see that you are not robbed Of YOU