New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-28
THANKS TO THE GOVERNOR.

| There Is some satisfaction for the great mass
Of Republican voters in this State sneeringly
| described by the machine managers as 1.-THE
| better element" in the thought that there Is a
point In the demands of these managers upon
Governor Morton's credulity and good-nature
at which the Governor stops and calls halt.
1t Is not particularly fattering to the Governor
that the satisfaction derived from such an as
serton of independence is all the greater from
| its being unexpected and somewhat in the nature
of surprise. In the depressing conditions re-
sulting from the apparently absolute DONNA
ton of the Governors will by Mr. Platt and the
cool assumption of Executive functions by the
latter any indication of revolt and selfasserion
Is joyfully welcomed. 1t was for this reason
| that the Governor on two or three occasions dur
| ing the legislative session of 1893 was awarded
high praise for having interposed his personal
influence and official position in opposition to
some Of the schemes whereby the machine man
ayers undertook to defeat the movement for
| municipal reform. Yet he did nothing that the
advocates of municipal reform to whom he
| owed his election. were not justified in expect
ing him TO do spontaneously, without the slight
est shadow Of hesitation. Ii his conf
Dental relations with, and his subsprvicnce to,
the leading opponent of reform that subjected
him to suspicion and distrust and he rcaped
the benefit of revulson in his favor when he
gave the people a surprise by an unexpected
assertion of honest independence.
For the first time during the present session
he is today enjoying a satisfaction similar 10
that which he derived last year from the same
course upon the occasions referred to. "The
better element" though not hilarious or enthus-
astic over his action, is still giving him generous
credit for having interposcd against the final
consummation Of the plans of the machine man
ayers in tanning through the Greater New
| York bill IL had been confidently given out
| by Mr. Platt and his lieutenant in this county.
| Mr.. Lauterbach. that the Greater New-York bill
would not only receive the Governors approval,
but would be followed by supplementary lcgis-
latlon in the interest OF the machine managers,
| that it had come to be expected as a matter Of
! course by everybody who had watched the course
of legislation and the action Of the Governor.
| Mr. Platt had worked his own sweet will with
| the Legislature and the Executive so long with
out serious opposition or hndrance that the con-
viction had become general and positive that
the Governor was an inconsequent factor, and
that what Plat said went" Hence when il
was publicly announced that Mr.. Patt would
issue instructions to his "Sunday-schoo class
| 10 bring in the supplemental bills and Jam
them through there was little hope in the
minds Of 1.-THE better element that the scheme
| so fraught with mischief to the State and dis
aster TO the party would not be contaminated.
| Now that 1t Is understood that Governor Nor
ton has interposed and thwarted the design
so confidently proclaimed, he Is receiving com
mendation and high praise for his assertion Of
| independence. 1t is deserved. The Tribune
most cordially unites in it. and gives expression
| to the general sense Of gratitude for an unex-
pected favor
| And now shall we seem to be ungracious In
| view Of this favor or too exactng OF further
consideration If we beg the Governor to 60 one
step further and cut up the whole scheme Of
| these conspirators. root and branch, by inter
| posing his veto of the Greater New-York bill,
now awaiting his action? There are reasons
for it in plenty in the disapproval Of two Re-
| publican Mayors in the manifest hostility Of a
majority of the voters OF Brooklyn, including
| the most influential citizens; In It's open viola
ton Of the principle Of home rule; in the dishon-
est methods by which it was damned through"
the Legislature. >and, above all, in the fact that
| its passage in the Assembly is due to the dis
honesty of three Brooklyn Assemblymen. who
had solemnly promised to oppose the measure
unless accompanied by a provision for resub-
! mission, and who owed their election to such
| promises. This last consideration should be
sufficient. In approving this bill the Governor
| will signify his assent to, and appreciation of,
the conduct of men who deliberately falslfied
their promises and betrayed their constituents.
| Without such barefaced dishonesty and treach-
| cry the bill would not have passed. These facts
are within the Governors knowledge. He must
| face them. And with them he has to face the
question whether he Is willing to 90 upon the
record as approving and indorsng political
| immortality Of so gross and heinous character
He is drawing near the end Of long, and for
| the most part useful and honorable, public ca
reer. Why not sgnalze Its close by one more
assertion of personal independence In the in
terest Of political morality and common honesty ?