The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-25
MIR. HIGGINS DEFENDED.
A Friends Intimate and Intutionai EST
mate and Plea. ,

To THE EDITION or THE SUN-Str. As . reader
OF TIE sun who has had q good deal OF knowledge
OF tho Life and character OF Lieutenant Governor
Higgins, want TO protest as earnestly as may
against the comments In your editorial TO day upon
his charming and Characteristic little address to
his friends and neighbors a. Olean, who assembled
10 greet him after dis nomination for the Governor
ship OF New York In which he promised, he said,
with all the sincerity he possessed, and With such
ability as God Almighty had given him. that. u
elected In November he would be "the Governor
OF all the people and faithfully eourageously and
honestly discharge the duties OF that high once"
These words were uttered by no Ordinary man or
commonplace politician, and they meant pre-
cisely and absolutely what they expressed; and
II were Democrat I would believe them as i'm
plcity as all Republicans, who really know Mr..
Higgins as well as do must believe them. He IL
mo mans man." as the phrase Is, and has viii OF
his own as cold and unbend!ng as chilled steel In
the doing OF what he believes Is right In every pub
lie and private relation. More than that. perhaps.
his views about what Is right all subjects, and
on all occasions. are founded upon the highest
principles and the practice Of a life governed nv
such principles. am sue that do not know what
stronger guarantees than these the voters OF the
State Of New York could have that Mr. Higgins.
II elected. would not be and could not be Cover
nor under Oden, or under any other living man.
The gathering At the depot and In front Of Lieu.
tenant-Governor Higgnss house at Clean tbs
other day was honored, as observed. by the pres-
tlemen who have known Mr.. Higgins all his life
and who probably will Loyalty vote the Democratic
ticket, as Democrats usually do. and am conn d.
dent that not one OF these men, for know them
would have Joined In that welcome home II he be-
lieved for a moment that his friend and reighbor
would be the instrument of anybody as the Cover
nor OF the great State OF New York. Every one
OF them knew that. II elected. Mr.. Higgins would
TO the best OF his ability discharge the duties OF his
high once In the interest and for the benefit Of
all the people OF his native State
In THE SUN to day appears the congratulatory
letter OF President Roosevelt TO Lieutenant
Governor Higgins, in which the President, after
referring TO their close relations at Albany.
when he was Governor and Mr.. Higgins was
chairman Of the Finance Committee OF the
Senate states that he never had the good fortune
to be thrown with any public servant Of higher
integrity and of greater administrative ability
and that the people OF New York rest In abso-
lutte confidence that II Mr.. Higgins is eleoted, "the
administration OF affairs at Albany win be con
Quoted on the highest possible plane OF efficiency
and honor" Certainly this Is most Important
testimony for the voters Of the State OF New York
against the Justice OF your editorial In respect to
the address OF Mr. Higgins the other day at oesn.
President Roosevelt, II anybody, knows what kind
OF Governor Mr. Higgins Is likely TO make. and be
has said emphaucaiy what he thinks on that sub
ject.
am quite sure from my knowledge of Mr.. Hle
gins extending now over a period OF q quarter
.
In regard TO his character as public man, that II
the administration of Governor Odell. or any part
Of It, is Justly the proper subject Of investigation
BY his successor Mr. Higgins II elected, will not
avoid the performance of any duty he may have
In respect to such Investigation and will perform
that duty every other faithfully courag eously
and honestly" as he has promised the people Of
New York J. HUXLEY ASHTON.
WARRINGTON. Sept. 7a
Mr.. Higgins as a friend or neighbor is not
before the court. His collection OF general
principles and views is not pertinent, Mr.
Roosevelt's Endorsement Of him is TO be re-
garded as Official conventional and necessary.
Our correspondent says that if Odellism ought
to be investigated. he is sure. from his knowl-
edge Of the moral build OF Mr.. Higgins, that
Mr.. Higgins will, il elected, investigate
The Democratic position is that the Odcll
monocracy needs to be overthrow and
investigated. The position OF Mr.. Odell himself
is that II docs not need to be overthrow and
investigated. How can Mr. Higgins adopt
the Democratic position? odell nominated
him. Approval Of the Odell administration
is his sole State issue and stock in trade. H.
he is not Odell's man. what is he doing in that
galley?