The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-05-25
Denatured,

Last week, when the senate Oi TINS
State, following the example 81 the As
sembly. decisively defeated the Human
Green bill, the Hon CHARLES Evans
HUGHEs occupied an honorable II not
a triumphant position. He had made a
gallant fight for a personal measure.
II he had at times pressed his project
with an excess ~ zeal. he had vet re-
Trained from an ultimate appeal to that
form Of coercion Familiarity described a.
-bOss rule
Il is true that in the course Of the
Governors struggle he had made sew
eral concessions and az least twice
completely reversed his position. Yet,
since the advent Of the Hinman-Green
bill h. had maintained 4 consistent
attitude However uncertain a. 10 the
bcst plan in the earlier days when both
permissive and mandatory primary leg
islaiion were proposed. his decision for
his own bill had been final and unchang-
ing On the very day before the senate
voted its members had in their hands
the text oi his own declaration that no
modification or limitation II the field Of
his measure was desirable or could bs
even serviceable.
Who can forget that barely three
weeks ago, when a number Of eminent
aud honorable citizens Of this State sent
to Albany a proposition 10 narrow the
application and modify the vigor of
the Hinman-Green bill, they were de-
nOunCed not merely a. mistaken hut a.
dishonest and indecent Against them
there burst a storm Of abuse which was
the more astounding since each n these
distinguished citizens had rendered oOn-
spiCuous public service and was en-
deavoring at that precise moment 20
serve the interests Of orderly and sue
cessfIl reform.
Then. a. at all times since the agita-
ton began. the unparalleled doctrine vas
asserted that principle. punctuation and
paragraph. all the Hinman-Green bill was
holy and inspired The sign and seal of
sin. is champions declared. could be rec
ognized in the slightest effort 10 mar or
mutilate. or even 20 change or modify.
the sacred instrument. Indeed. the one
and the only test Of citizenship. honesty.
decency. was truculent loyalty TO the
Hinman-G Green bill. To those who sup
ported il their course brought full and
free absolution for all past offences. how
ever unspeakable, for all who opposed il
no past public service. however great,
could palliate the iniquity Of this crime
In the State Of New York men we're
solemnly affirmed 20 be good or bad.
exactly "A they accepted or rejected the
whole, unchanged and immutahle
Three weeks ago, AZ We have said. Gov
ernor HUGHEs met honorable defeat in
a campaign which, however deserving
Of criticism in many details had been
fought with ability and earnestness. But
where does he stand now? What posi-
ton is his in this hour when he has con-
sented 20 accept a compromise which he
had himself publicly denounced. when
he has agreed 70 accept a, the hands n
the enemy he has assailed for three
wears those concessions which he has In
advance proclaimed worthless In the
minds 81 many 81 his most loyal sup
porters. the hostility N his hill was a
visible evidence NJ an immanent devil.
How then shall II 20 with the Hon.
CHARLES EVANS HUGHEs when he has
compromised his fight and accepted the
terms n this opponents
What the Hon. CHARLES EVANS
HUGHES has done the Hon. TIMOTHY
l. WOODRUFF might have done and
would have done with consistency and
safety. Il is the business 81 politicians
n accommodate party q,larrels. But 10
compromise a contest begun. continued
and concluded with the constant appeal
70 a moral issue. this "a less easy. The
surprise must he that Governor HUGHEs
has done what Mr.. WOODRUFF or Mr.
BARNES assuredly would have done
Nor can II he less a matter " importance
that even this ultimate sacrifice has been
Tnnde in vain