New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-23
Mr.. HUGHES SPEAKS
THE NEED or REFORM.
Sale of Poscer IN Legislature
Halls Nckemng, He Says.

| Philadelphia, Feb. Ex-Governor Hughes
| OF New York, in an address at the Uni
versity Day celebration of the University
| OF Pennsylvania to-day, said that the spirit
/ OF Washington was as much needed now
! as It was in Colonial days
We have been sickened with the corrup-
ton that rots public enterprise. and with
| the spectacle OF legislative halls and ad-
! ministrative offices turned into market
places. where the exercise of governmental
powers is made the subject of barter and
sale said the Governor in pressing his
point home
In presenting Governor Hughes. Provost
Harrison spoke of the Governors courage
and disinterestedness." ''In all our minds,
In all our hearts," the provost said, "a
great light shines forth in the armament of
our country in the character and personal
ity of the gentleman who is about to ad
dress YOU
Governor Hughes said in part:
The problem of America to-day is to Sc
cure. honest and faithful performances of
public obligation. The demands of admin
istration grow, but human capacities and
fralties remain unchanged In our vii
lagos, cities and states, and in the nation
the burdens of governmental duties in
crease and the opportunities for the neglect
and betrayal of the interests of the people
multiply Important questions constantly
claim our attention. and il is easy in the
zeal of political controversy and in the de-
bates Of policy largely to lose sight of the
simple requirements of fidelity in admins
tration. But we cannot afford 20 forget
that whatever the merit of legislative pro
pOSaiS. the final test must ever be found
wants. We have been sickened with the
with the spectacle of legislative halls ard
administrative Offices turned into market
places, where the exercise of governmental
powers is made the subject of barter and
sale.
We have representative government; but
how Shall We improve the quality OF rep
reseHtation? The value of criticism is not
TO be ignored: but can we trust the critics
with the Offices? How shall we be sure
not only of the arraignment Of evil, but of
the substitution of good: how may we not
merely condemn, but also improve?
How. indeed, save by infusing the youns
men of the country with the spirit of Wash
ington and thus assuring constant and cor
dial response to the imperatfves of honor?
How. save by developing that sense of oh
legation and that inyincible loyalty TO trust
which made Washington not simply mill
tary hero and popular and trusted leader
that the incarnation OF public. virtue and
the type. forever, in this nation and all
others. of the true public seryant-the ideal
representative Of the people?
These are better days than the So-called
golden days of the fathers Despite the ex-
tent of political corruption, at no time have
upon political purity. We should judge the
standards Of the people not by those who
and growing demand that political action
shall be free from selfish control. and that
there shall be faithful representation in
every department Of government
Malign power. intrenched in well fortified
citadeis may here and there successfully
Will be reduced We should not be blind TO
the wrongs and excuses of our day, nor
omit justly to estimate the strength or TO
measure the achievements of the destruc-
t1te forces which are constantly active;
but cannot fail TO be encouraged when
he m
worthy aspira tons, the patriotic motives
and the wholesome lives of the great ma
ioTity OF fellow countrymen. And to-
day we may compare the present and the
past with national sef-respect and with
honorable pride in both accomplishment
The people are naturally FESTIVE under
known abuses. and may ne imp9atIent IN
the nature of the remedy which will prove
effective But the expression of q strong
public sentiment with respect to disclosed
wrong is not be confused with hySterical
excitement, nor should demand simply for
needed correctives be thought an evidence
this free land are competent to govern
Themselves by reason of their essential con
servatisn, and because their sober judg-
ment in critical emergencies may be trust
ed. They know that prosperity depends
follow the prophets OF disorder But this
does not imply a Willingness to surrender
public rights Or to acQuiesce In their non
We shall not avoid mistakes. but in the
main neither infiammatory and demagogi-
cal appeal nor the dishonest arguments OF
special privilege will control the final out
come OF first Importance is ii that we
should respect the institutions of our coun-
Try and love the ways of calm reason
This. despite 1.-The occasional effcrYes-
cences" which Washington foresaW, is
after all the American habit.
The comforting Of degrees among
the first things on the long programme
Governor Hughes honored with the de-
gree of doctor of laws Others who re-
ceived honorary degrees were:
Doctor Of LaWs-James II. Beck, Of New
York.
yice-president of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road: George S. Webster, chief of the bu-
reau of surveys OF the city of Philadelphia
Master of Arts (Causs Honoris)-Horris
l. Ciothier. merchant. of Philadelphia.
Provost Charles c. Harrison. before pre-
senting Governor Hughes, brought forth
applause by announcing that the Medical
School. the cradle of medical education in
this country, received 100 from an IN
named alumnus TO endow a chair, the
occupants TO be known THE Benjamin
Rush Professor of Physiological Chemis-
try" The provost also announced that in
2 few days the university will come into
$4,000 for the endowment of ten beds In
the University Hospital. and the Pennsyl-
vania Railroads exhibit, showing the de-
yeIopment of the methods of transportation
from the earliest times down to the pres
emit Part of this exhibit on view at