New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-01
ADJOURNED.

Nothing in his life became him like the
leaving it. requires only change OF pronouns
to make 1t fit the Legislature which adjourned
yesterday. The quotation is more often used
In disparagement than In eulogy, but IN this
case 1t has double application; for while the
session Just ended brought keen disappointment
to the people Of the State and to the party to
which a great majority Of the peoples repre-
sentatives belonged, and it Is therefore relief
to know that the possibilities Of evil have been
exhausted it should also be frankly acknOw
edged with gratitude that the last hours Of the
Legislature were comparatively tranquil and
reputable Too often the end Of session has
witnessed disgraceful scramble for spoils and
a still more disgraceful resort to the processes
of corruption The final proceedings yesterday
were decorous In form. and seemingly decent
in character. Several bad measures which had
commanded strong support to the last were
left to perish on the calendar, and II is not be-
lieved that many undetected jobs will be found
among the bills Ia Governor Mortons hands
1t is pleasure to say that the useful achieve
ments Of the session have not all been OF mega
tive character. The Legislature has done q good
deal more that is meritorious than merely re-
frnin from adopting some notorious measures
Of personal and political plumber and large
number Of mischevous little schemes. Its most
creditable performance was the passage OF the
School Reform bill against the strenuous OPP
position Of men wholly in the confidence Of the
machine, and without the approval Of the Boss
himself For that important manifestation OF
independence this city is largely indebted to
Governor Morton, whose special message gave
the majority courage to vote according to their
-vI . tn, n1n oh.,Iu vsaAn
that many similar services might have been rem
dered to the people but were not. Other COM
mendable acts of the Legislature are generally
recognized as proofs Of fair intelligence and
desire to earn public appreciation SO far as the
machine would permit. We do not join In the
accusation that the majority at Albany this
year have cheerfully debased themselves that
the role which they have consented to play has
been congenlal, and that they now find satsfac-
ton in the fact that they have substantially
carried out the programme which was imposed
upon them at the beginning Of the session.
There Is little evidence to show that this was
a corrupt Legislature In the sense In which that
word is usually employed.
The fatal deficiency Of the Legislature Of 1896
was its lack Of moral courage to resist dlctation
which was often felt to be irksome and which
was generally TtCOkulIcu W pcO-
pie. And that was indeed monstrous and
costly infdeity. Many Of those who yielded,
through a strangely perverted sense Of obliga-
ton, to orders never 20 much as suggested IN
the terms Of their election but emanating solely
from an irresponsible individual, plainly ex-
hibited their reluctance and their dread. They
did so in all the proceedings connected with the
two chief measures Of the session-the Liquor
ox yVo ho
no power or wish to shield them from the just
resentment Of the people whom they have af-
fronted and betrayed, or from any penalty which
their constituents may choose to infct But
we do protest against the assumption that boss
ism is in any way shape or manner accredited
in this State by the accomplishment Of its pur-
poses. 1t was detested even by its instruments
in the Legislature, sometimes to the very verge
Of defiance, and Of all the public officials identi-
fed with its achievements the only one whose
constituency is the whole Commonwealth has
seen his honorable ambition crumble into dust
beneath the accommodating proofs Of his sub
servience.
One thing more we wish to affirm and insist
upon. 1t Is commonly and carelessly said that
public servants who disgrace themselves dis
grace also the people whose commission they
hold But this is true only when the people con-
sent to accept the treachery and thereby make
themselves responsible. Legislature cannot
render ignominious the State or the party by
which Its conduct is Justly judged and It's acts OF
perfdy repudiated Thus far nobody has the
slightest warrant for assuming that majority
Of the voters of New-YOrk will blunder In fixing
the blame and INJECTING the punishment for
what has been done and left undone at Albany!