New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-10-07
MR.. RICHES ON THE ISSUE.

Mr. Hughes was at his best In his Carnegie
! Hall speech because he spoke without nouilsn
! and in his own natural character. AS cdhul-
date he has found a role exactly suited 10 MS
! method and temperament He is not the skill
fuI advocate who is defending n cause he only
half believes in, not the apoioGlst VINO seeks
TO cover over abuses and shortcomings by an
appeal to partisan loyalty He Is the Intelligent
and dispassonate critic who sees wrongs and
wants TO right them, but who recognizes the
value of patience. GOODNESS and moderation and
does not think that riot is the best or only
cure for ''rottenness." He does not blink at the
fact that there are men and interests accustomed
ITO treat privilege not a duty, but as an op-
portunity for spoliaton" There are enterprises,
he admits which "abuse public trust, public
opportunities, privileges given for public ser
vice" But It is the work of grown men. OF
yirtle intelligence TO investigate, to dlscrlml-
nate and TO seek remedies In spirit of fairness
and Justice not to indulge in sweeping incrimi-
nations and wholesale condemnation of the In
nocent and the guilty. Blind rage and reckless
abuse are not the agencies which best uproot
corruption and promote rational reforms in busi-
ness and politics.
Mr.. Hughes IS an admirable type of the ra-
tional reformer He believes in temperance in
Judgment and surety in method. He would
rather make haste slowly than make haste spec
tacularly. In his view it is more important that
progress should be lasting than that it should
be snowy. Over against his opponents pro-
gramme of fiashy agitation and boundless prom
se he sets his own record of solid achievement
AS we pointed out the other day, Mr.. Hughes
has been. in fact far more effective leader
than Mr. Hearst in the fight TO curb the excuses
Of corporations and make an end of their in
reference in politics. He did the actual work
In exposing the workings Of the lighting trust
and in uncoverlng the insurance scandals, and
drew the legislation which protected gas con-
sumars, restored their rights to insurance pol
icyholders and killed corporation lobbying at
Albany. His attitude IN ali these undertake
ngs was straightforward and Openminded
He sought the facts and then devised the rem
edieS. But he did not run amuCk with denun-
Citations of everybody connected with the gas
and insurance enterprises. His course was that
of the sober, conscientious student Of conditions
and the practical reformer whose quarrel is al
ways less with individuals than with the sys-
TEN they practise.
AS q candidate Mr.. Hughes, therefore, makes
a natural appeal TO reason against hysteria
and unreason. He stands for sobriety and or
der, not clamor and passion, as the keynOtes Of
rational progress. His canvass is based on the
fundamental contention that real progress is
impossible If attempted in a spirit (which ig-
nores reason and dispassionate discussion" AS
he asked on Friday night, if infammatory agl-
tation is to be tolerated and encouraged, How
'can you get back to that orderly and sober
consideration of public questions which all the
real friends of progress want:"
Mr. Hughes plants himself on solid ground
when he thus emphasizes the real issue between
himself and his opponent