The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-06
An Apothegmatic Message.


An Apothegmatic Message.
From the annual message of Governor
BLACK delivered to the Legislature yes
terday, we extract n few passages which
illustrate his capacity for gen.
oralization and philosophic thought, and
likewise his considerable skill at phrase
making. Some of the Governors apothegms
nre neat. None is silly. All of them SAVIOR
OF careful elaboration, and they denote the
conscientious study which he has bestowed
upon the multifarious subjects involved in
che regular performance of his official
Nduties. The little collection here subjoined
10 interesting, we think, and it furnishes q
very fair measure of intellectual quality:
nThe condition Of any business community 10 likely
o show at the BANK
"The farmer can never escape his taxes; whatever
means Of escape may be open to others are closed to
him"
'.An Inspiration that produces no result. is no better
than an agreeable recollection"
"The hrst of yesterday may DO the second to-day.
and out of the race tomorrow.
EVERY citizen Of this country has the right to get
4 % the sea with his prod let"
"Tho broadest and most liberal policy is the
Hisest."
"wo should not be satisfied with q system because
I u IL the best in use. unless 1t is the best that can be
devised."
1.-The character of tho citizen is largely formed in
his childhood"
''If more were confined in schoolhouses in their
youth. there would be fewer confined in other insti.
buttons in later life."
ga gained from good books means in.
creased power and better citizenship"
"Reading is q ladder which may be used to climb
% the summit or descend to the p!t.''
"a pauper Is not. because Of his insanity. entitled
20 extravagant fare or gorgeous surroundings"
"a prisoners term should not depend upon the will
Of his keeper. The court should fix 1t. The court
win be impartial. the keeper may not be-"
N man can be q fair Judge who does not under.
stand both sides"
rThe life OF q tree is measured. and whether It is
removed by man or falls by its own weight. its
destruction Is certain
! Nearly every product sprInging from the earth
can be gathered and Nature will renew the supply
"over fifteen thousand whom Tammany Hall left
In cni:e three years ago. at the time OF her inglorlous
\ departure. she finds still there on her triumphant
EetIrn."
1.-THE public gets less for Its money than individuals
GET for theirs"
The servants of the public should not be inferior
b % tho servants of individuals"
A relations rest upon confidence"
"a law that is not uniformly applied is not just"
Economy in the abstract excites universal enthu.
poiasm. but abstract economy is of no value what.
pbvcr."
Passing from the general to the specific,
4 I'VE find some striking features in Governor
j BLACKS ably written message.
q He declares unhesitatingly hat mas.
much as the whole of the so, 900, 900 ap-
propriated for canal improvement has been
expended upon about two.thirds of the nee
essary work, the money for the compile
tion OF the job ought not to be appropriated
by the Legislature without the sanction of
o direct vote by the people.
He announces that the Raine law has
quadrupled the annual revenue from liquor
licenses, while it has decreased the number
of saloons nearly one-sixth. The excise
revenue last year was $12, 275, 247; the
number of licenses outstanding is 2s,O54.
He will favor any amendment which will
Improve the present act.
He notes that the of New York
city is not increasing 80 rapidly as that of
some other ports, and recommends that a
commission be created to find out the
causes of relative decline and the means of
revival.
He thinks that the National Guard
"would be better il 1t was removed further
from political control"
He discusses the question of labor at con-
siderable length, regards the University
Settlement as n valuable institution for
the prevention of disputes, traces the seed
Of labor troubles to unrestricted immigra-
I tion, and suggests: First, that immigra-
tion be checked secondly, that "a fair
rate OF wages be paid laborers y and,
thirdly, that in opposing strikes firearms
should not be prematurely used.
He favors the further gradual acquisi.
tion by the State of the Adirondack and
other forest lands, and the systematic cul-
t~ivation Of scientific and experimental
forestry by the State Government. 1.-The
time will come" says the Governor, "when
the State will sell timber to the lumberman,
spruce to the pulp mills, reap a large
revenue for itself, and still retain the
woods, open to the public, protecting the
sources of water, growing and yielding
under intelligent cultivation"
He thinks the Lexow Civil Service law is
. III best civil service law the State ever
had" There should be nothing in a civil
service law to prevent removals, with or
without cause. He recommends a larger
and more efficient system OF examination.
Ohices should be bestowed according to
merit and fitness, but there should be no
restriction in the power of removal No
y o6ieeholding class, says the Governor,
'DahOuld be created In this country.
n n "a AHAliG ~ikhnut anv anaeiAe nAnonn-