New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-05
REGENERATION.

The housekeeping is only begun, but IL is
well begun. The workers are just eellns at
their tasks but they are engaged on theih' 'iie9
have cleared away preliminary opstacles anu
are in possession of the opportunity 10 accom-
plish something in the way OF REFORM. i'm
the forces which rallied around Mr. "adSWorth
ascendant in the legislature, and with high
minded leadership under Mr.. Parsons In TINS
city. the Republican party is prepared to put
into execution the policy of President Roosevelt
and Governor Higgins The essential feature
Of that policy Is the administration OF the gov
eminent honestly and unselhshly Tor the Dehe-
fit of the people. The Governors message out
lines programme of practical measures for the
correction Of business and political abuses TOT
securing to the people better ADMINISTRATOR
and for promoting higher moral tone aliohs
the people themselves which has been wen re-
ceived by the public and is likely to be ac-
cepted in a large degree by the legislature.
The new Speaker has begun the arrangement
of his committee lists in an independent ana
conscientious spirit; and while the practlcal
problem of creating an effective working Or
ganiZation Of the material at hand is eInDar-
RAISING and difficult, there Is every prospect or
set of committees generally inspired by pure
purposes and open to the influence OF sound
public sentiment.
Few things in politics are more creditable
Republican party of this state on the moral
Issue brought home to the people by the recent
searching Of hearts. The party has made mis-
takes. 1t has done things it ought not to have
done and left undone things it ought TO have
done. And therein it has been the epltome OF
the people themselves The party is saying
litany for itself indeed, but who shall sheer at
such an exercise or, In view of widely condoned
practices in the business world, from high
finance to retail trade, from insurance manager
to walking delegate, profess superiority and
not say in his own heart BE merciful to me,
a sinner? The revelations of the last year
have startled the nation. Happily its vision,
like that of Scrooge, is of what might have
been rather than of what must be, and the es
sential strength and virtue of American char
acter has rallied against the evil ways and ten
denotes which have been suddenly disclosed in
their enormty.
1t is harder for an impersonal organization TO
exercise introspection and turn over a new leaf
than for an individual. Consequently It is great
ly to the credit of the Republican party of the
state that it is able TO realize its shortcomings,
see how it has drifted with the current and, Of
its own motion, while In power, earnestly con-
ceive and effectively carry out a purpose Of
publication That is something which pold-
cal party has almost never been able to do.
Parties are generally reformed only by ad-
versity and administrations only by revolution.
But the Republican party In nation and state
has disclosed unprecedented power of mend
ing its ways which shows that, after all, its
moral fibre is sound. When President Roosevelt
learned of postof1ce abuses which had grown
up under Republican rule, he corrected them.
He has been firm and energetic in exposing
postoffice frauds and land frauds and reorgan-
iZing departments on a business basis as If he
were cleaning house after a Democratic adj
ministratton. And so it is in this state Gov
ernor Higgins and his associates In the leader
ship of the party are determined TO render it an
effective instrument Of betterment for the peo-
pie, to make it correct its own past mistakes
and put it into harmony with the newly awak-
ened popular conscience. And they have the
hearty support of the great mass Of Republican
voters
The Republican party of the state is what
the people Of the state have made It. It's off
GERS and legislators have been as good as the
people who chose them They have been GER
tainy as good as, and generally better than
their Democratic colleagues Of the minority or
their predecessors in days OF a Democratic
majority. However carelessly they have drift
ed with a tide OF moral Indifference they
have been quick to awake and have had the
force of character TO forsake bad counsellors
and set themselves earnestly TO do their duty.
The reform from within has only begun, but
the beginning of such reform Of its own motion
by a political party is both remarkable and
suspicious.