The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-16

together as equally dangerous ports, infested
by the most daring thieves, and guarded by the
most inefficient police in the world Merchants
and captains may sleep soundly, without fear
of their cabins being rihed. or stray coils Of
chain or cordage being carried of during the
night.
These improvements are gratifying, and, 50
far as they 60 are sound and judicious. But
much remains yet to be done-not so much, per-
haps, In the way of legislation as in the mode Of
carrying out The lawn order to raise New
York to the level of European cities in this par
ticuar. in London go where you will at night,
you cannot get out of sight or hearing of po-
you are collared in a twinklng. In this city,
on the contrary, a man may frequently walk
from the Park to Union square in the dead OF
night without ever seeing the emblem OF Of
fee" He may peiambulatc the Bowery at two IN
the morning for an hour without coming within
call Of an officer. He may shout Police!' in
Twenty-second street till his lungs are exhaust
ed. without meeting any other response than
the occasional opening and shutting OF neigh
boris window. If the night is dark, rainy, OF
tempestuous, he may be sure that not shadow
Of policeman will cross his path the force be-
ing obviously Of the same opinion as the senti-
ned who. caught by the firesde of an inn, when
he ought to have been on guard, Indignantly
inquired of his sergeant: The eneany! why
where in the world could he 60 such a night as
ths!' If our nine hundred policemen were to
display as much ingenuity in ftrreting out
thieves as they do in concealing themselves on
occasions OF emergency, we shonld not hear OF
rewards being offered fer stolen property.
Our police may learn another lesson fron'ior-
eigners. Instances of brutality seldom or never
occur j. Paris they arc rare in London. aud
when brought to aight arc always severely
punished. Here it not uafrequently occurs
that ). policeman conceives il to be his duty to
ADMINISTER a severe drnbbilg to his prisoner, as
a preliminary to conveying him to Tie station.
| II he arrest a drunken man, whose legs re-
fuse to perform their Office, the officer of the
law attempts b renovate them by batterng his
head with . club. If AIRY resistance is threaten
ed, nothing short OF stunning the offender sa-
sisfies the indignant ftnctionary. And should
The victim Of this brutality, goaded to ungov-
ernable fury by the savage attack Of the police
man so far forget hiraself as to use weapon
with fatal effect, the gallows is there to avenge
the righteous minister Of the law. Such things
occur every day. The cause has lain in the un-
willingness Of magistrates and justices to enter
tain charges of this nature against officers
unless they are brought forward by citizens Of
the highest responsibility. No distinction Of
| the kind should be drawn. The vilest wretch,
who has complaint of il-usage to prefer
against policeman, should be patiently heard
the matter carefully investigated, and, if the
charge prove wcll-founded, the brutal officer
condignly punished. The language Of the new
act,induces as to hope that this will be the case
in future. We sincerely trust it may. Bru-
tally and violence are. perhaps even greater
crimes ina policeman than cowardce or neglect
| of duty.