New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-02
GOVERNOR BLACK'S ADDRESS.

Whatever else Governor Black may he. he i
a master of clear-cut thinking and of a classic
English style. Nobody who read or listened to
his address yesterday on taking the oath of
office could have failed to be impressed with
that fact. The ceremony in the Assembly Cham
Der was simple almost to baroness. and the nau-
gural address was brief almost to abrupness,
yet so fitting to the occasion were the words
that nothing further could be asked, even though
the ending left a sense of disappointment that
| such well-turned sentences should be so few.
The speech was not a declaration of policy. but
an indication Of character. and. short as II was.
had a suggcs,ivcness partly It's own. partly due
to the expression and personality behind it, far
transcending its merely verbal attributes.
Good taste characterized Mr.. Blacks entrance
on the GovernOrship. He is comparatively an
unknown man. whose powers are yet 10 be
proved. whose ship. rs he himself suggests. Is
only started on the voyage. not yet returned 10
port But if there Is any trust to be put in word
and manner and in physiognomy. the mote OF
confidence will not be lacking in the shouts
that greet the journeys end. in spite Of all the
claims some men are making that The course Is
to be laid down by them. The Governor evil
that he did not know the problems Of his office.
he did not attempt to outline the solutions which
he had not reached. nor did he manufacture
platitudcs. review history nor digest statistics
from State reports. In his five minutes speech
with all the firm simplicity which marks his
bearing, he strove TO do nothing except TO mirror
the spirit of the occasion and his own feelings
on the assumption of power. His words to
Governor Morton were admirably put, containing
the tribute of a younger TO an elder man. which,
while graceful and even fatterlnC. departed not
an atom from measured. self-respecting judg
ment. His promises to the people bore the
marks Of unmistakable sincerity. Whatever his
future course may be. though he should give the
State bad officials and sign bad laws. we are
convinced that critics will not justly charge him
with faithlessness or weakness, even If they
should be compelled to condemn him for stub
bOrnly made mistakes
If there is one thing more than another which
Governor Black seems to possess it is strength
Of will. He will give careful consideration TO
all citizens. and submit all questions to his own
personal judgment, and decide them with
sense of personal responsibility. He himself
will be Governor No one shall boss him. lie
VIII cTluge 10 no one, LOT, He says, tTtlSt
that no man believes the attitude Of fear is
worthy to play part in the discharge Of any
public duty And just in connection with
that declaration is the one sentence In the ad-
dress which may mean good or evil according
as wise firmness or narrow stubbOrnness shall
at certain points dominate the Executive will:
mo ntoerant camOr or irresponsible assault
will force or prevent a single Executive act"
Perhaps 1t Is only the talk Of irresponsible busy
bodies which gives this remark suspicion Of |
significance, but nevertheless, the suspicion will |
arise Predictions of few VIGOROUSLY unfit |
appointments have been circulated with such an |
air of confidence and have so generally aroused |
expression of surprised dsapproval that the as
ISOLATION is inevitable. Does Governor Black in
tend to make these appointments. and, If so. will
respectable people who do not hold tolerant
views Of lobbying and swindlng as 'intoerant
clamOr'' and irresponsible assault? We hope
not We shall not believe it, unless forced to
by the event On the contrary, we shall conf
IDENTIFY expect the Governors fe;iressness to be
manifested in harmony with honest feeling and
in opposition to all improper claims. And even
If mistakes are made, as. indeed, they must be,
we shall not be unduly critical Of an official
who makes mistakes that are his own Much
a strong, fearless and Independent spirit and
Governor Black gives gratifying indication of
such character