New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-13
EX-GOVERNOR HIGGINS.

The death of Ex-Governor Higgins so SOON
after his retirement from office lmparlS pa
thetic almost tragic, aspect TO his service !"
the executive chair 1t had long been known
that he performed his trying task uhuer
the burden of Ill health but few reaHHeu u
what an extent he was nerving hlmseH 10 lhe
work with unselfsh devotion to duty and how
he was consciously shortening his own days by
his perslstency, in spite of family and 1riehus'
IN keeping I'D and performing to the last detail
every obligation which he felt attached 10 the
trust with which he had been honored. There
were not lacking those, knowing TINS lull Well'
whose petty malevOlenCe was equal 10 sneeFlhS
at him as deficient in courtesy TO his successor
and trying to picture him as a sulkng and DIS
grUntled politician because he stayed at holel
instead of becoming a guest at the EXECUTIVE
Mansion in Inauguration week These ma
Uciously cruel attacks were directed against
man so intent on showing every possible cour-
tesy and doing all that he could TO make the
start of Governor Hughes suspicious that,
though he sat in his room on the last day OF the
year scarcely able 10 hold a pen, he replied 10
those who urged him to avoid the strain of the
ceremonies that he would 90 10 the capitol the
next day and make the speech welcoming Gov
ernor Hughes if it killed him. lie made the
speech with obvious difficulty and the effort OF
those days probably FASTENED the progress OF
his disease.
Governor Higgins was Mt the head OF the state
government in a time of unrest and transition.
Conventional political and business standards
had TO be recast in harmony with newly
awakened popular aspiration. With that aspi-
ration he thoroughly sympathized and he did
much to promote its realization. But he could
not lead a popular movement, at least III a
snowy and striking manner. Moreover the dis
ease from which it Is now clear lie suffered from
the beginning of his term was probably in II
large measure responsible for the deIlberaton
In crises which was sometimes the regret Of his
friends and the Joy OF his enemies. Neverthe-
less, in his own way, subject TO these lmlla-
tons Of temperament and Of strength, he was
unswervingly loyal to his ideals Of public service,
and he left office with unblemished personal
record, having done many good deeds for the
state not all of which We're popularity credited
10 him No man ever sought TO determine every
political proposition before him by the test
whether It was absolutely right or wrong more
faithfully than Governor Higgins, and his mis-
takes We're invariably mistakes Of Judgment,
not OF intention. And with all his inability to
advertise in his transformations way lie was
effective force for reform.
As a Senator he had been active in opposition
TO improper legislation aud IN improving the
public service. On becoming Governor he made
it clear that he would independently discharge
his duties. and he early earned the enmity OF
machine politicians. He secured ii real insur-
ance investigation at the cost Of misConceptiOn
and abuse by those who in their haste would
have secured a sham investigation. lie sup
ported the Armstrong committee and put
through its legislation. He forced the enact
ment Of the 50 cent gas law and many other
remedial measures. His influence was eXerted
10 pass and his signature was appended to a
I-+ 10 ysrlf.
mended and know Of no bill that was
recognized as bad or had any faint Of graft
upon it which he signed Though apparently
lacking in talent politician, he did much to
secure the reform of the Republican organiza-
ton IN this city. defeated Il reactionary move
ment 10 control the party in the state and paved
the way for tile nomination and election Of Mr.
Hughes He lived q clean highminded unseIf-
ish life. and the people of New York have rea-
son TO honor his memory. The state has had
more commanding governors, never more
faithful one.