and duty of final decisions. Of course, his situation is different from that of a President of the United States, who has a Cabinet to advise him on all matters, and Senators to make recommendations on appointments that have no force without their consent and approval. Nevertheless, Governor Hughes has made excellent appointments, and as a Governor who has been at once a public servant and a public leader he has made amazingly few mistakes. Indeed, I do not hesitate to affirm that, though our State has had illustrious names in the list of its Governors, including the names of Grover Cleveland and Theodore Roosevelt, it has never had a greater Governor than Charles Evans Hughes.

ITHACA, N. Y.

Public Office and Party

Principles

66

We make our appeal to the common-sense of the American people which has never failed to express itself decisively in a great crisis. We are pledged to just reforms in the American manner, in accordance with the genius of our institutions, and with love of truth and even-handed justice."-From Governor Hughes's speech accepting his nomination for Governor, October 3, 1906.

H

I.

Reply to Committee Appointed to Notify him of his Nomination for Mayor of New York City, October 9, 1905.

Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Notification Committee:

You summon me to what you believe to be a public duty, and I shall not answer that summons by referring to considerations merely personal, however important they might be if the question were one of personal preference.

You and the many others who have urged me to accept the nomination have not rested the request upon the basis of partisan obligation, but upon the more secure foundation of duty to the community. It has been impressed upon me that the Republican party is seeking to raise a standard to which, regardless of party, all men may resort who desire to see our city free from the pervasive influence of an organization whose motive is gain and not

service.

I am not insensible to this appeal, and I fully appreciate the responsibility of the position in which, against my will, I have been placed. The letters which I have received and the personal appeals which have been made have shown very clearly that there is a division of sentiment as to the course I shall pursue, and that either action I might take would be viewed with extreme disfavor by men whose judgment I respect and of whose sincerity there can question.

no

In this dilemma I have simply to do my duty as I see it. In my judgment I have no right to accept the nomination. A paramount public duty forbids it. It is not necessary to enlarge upon the importance of the insurance investigation. That is undisputed. It is dealing with questions vital to the interests of millions of our fellow citizens throughout the land. It presents an opportunity for public service second to none, and involves a correlative responsibility. I have devoted myself unreservedly to this work. It commands all my energies. It is imperative that I continue in it. You have frankly recognized that it must continue unembarrassed and with unimpaired efficiency. But it is entirely clear