The Washington herald., 1907-01-03
GOV. Hughes Great Opportunity.

Charles Evans Hughes, upon his Undue
ton into the Office of governor of New
York Tuesday. was given valuable cOUu-
sci by the retiring governor, Frank Way
land Higgins. Upon the shoulders OF
the chief executive of this State" said
Gov Higgins. must rest heavy burdens
imposed by constitutions and customs.
To execute the laws. 70 recommend wise
measures of legislation. To exercise the
appointing power with Judgment and dis
cerEmeut, 10 defend the liberties and en-
force the rights of eight million people
these are duties which try the mental
moral and physical strength 10 the ut
most To this high office the people Of
the State. reposing well deserved conf
dence in your independence. patriotism.
ability, and integrity. have called you"
Ii is pertinent % observe THAI had Hig-
gins performed the duties De so clearly
defined for his successor. ia all probability
Dee would have been continued in office
Mr.. Hughes election undoubtedly repre-
scented the protest of large element OF
the American electorate against two dis
tinct and dangerous tendencies I'm our
government On the one hand the voters
of New York by a narrow margin repudi-
ated the forces of extreme radicalism rep
resented 10y the candidacy Of William
Randolph Hearst ON the other they de-
clared their determination To put in the
position of greatest direct responsibility
in their service a man they believe 10 be
honest, and also intelligent enough 10
So execute the laws as TO preserve their
STATE government. The quality of hon
esty in public officials is common enough
sir. Hughes does not possess a larger
amount of this quality than do most of
cur public officials. The fault is not the
lack of plain honesty and good intent in
them. What is lacking i'm 700 many in
stances is Intelligence backed by courage.
In his private life Gov. Hughes has dem
onstrated the possession of finely trained
Intelligence and that courage which is a
concomitant of honesty. Thus he com
Dimes. or at least appears To do so. traits
that AZ this peTil1us juucture in our az
fairs weIl-meauing voters-men who arc
grounded In the real principles of our
system of goyernment-are looking for.
II he snail execute his trust in such
way as 20 convince the people that his
courage is as strong as his intelligence is
high. they viii elevate him To- higher
station. tt matters not that he may fail
10 realize all the expectations of bis sup
porters. The people are rapidly becoming
acquainted with the evil forces of ire
mendOus power against which upright
public officials have 10 struggle. They
are patient and long suffering But the
rascaIs who have battened upon them
with impuuity for SO long time are
learning that the perception of the people
is not as dun as they had been Ted % be-
Heve- Thus. even should Gov Hughes
be unable to bring about the badly needed
reforms in the State government Of New
York to which he has solemnly dedicated
himself, the people viii be able to Judge
where the cause Of failure lies. II he
shall accomplish even a single wholesome
reform within the two years for which
he has been elected he viii have achieved
something of vast benefit To his state
and 10 the nation. for the forces thar
prey are SO interIOcked in interest that
the overcoming of one means the weak
ening of all of them.
The eyes of the nation are upon Gov
Hughes. The country is looking for "a
man who knows how, and who has the
moral courage and stamina Ito do
things" The reservoir of the people S
patience has been drained almost TO its
dregs. They are becoming suspicious and
distrustful Of the old party organizations
II Gov. Hughes faithfully keeps his pledge
to be the governor of all the people OF
New York" we doubt not that higher
honors and greater responsibilities will be
awaiting him when Le has executed his
present trust.
But the tasks assigned to Hercules were
no harder than are those he has under
taken.