The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-22

occasior-the bands Of music dispersed throughout
the line< but above all the general Appearance ana
perfect Osoef OF the men, presented display wuicu
was the admiration Of strangers and the justly boast
ed comment our citizens. Afterwards, as az ao-
pr pirate finale to this ansiicious svent tne .te
skiff, the "Msid of the MIST" woich had noa1d
through the aqueduet from the Crosoa oam 70 'no
re eiyipp reservoir was n the presence OF tie mem.
bers of the legislature aud many other distinguished
visitass, formally presented to the department. IN
token of the benefit which was to result IN the ex-
tnnuisbment Of fires from the completion or this
most important and stupendous work; AID IT was
nv privilege upon that occasion, on yodr oe-
half and as ycur representative. to acknowledge
your spp eciation OF the very SIMPLE
gift. II VAS most unfortunate day Tor the best III
teres's Of the department, when, during an extern
siye conlagratioa in the eastern section OF the
civ information was received that the Common
Coun H. ia the presumed plentitade Of their
WELDON, had introduced the fell demon OF party
Quick lhad been removed, not for any want
Of ability on his pert to discharge the impor.
tsnt duties committed to his care - not
because lie had been guilty Of any breach OF trust
IN conr ect0n with the Office, but because In the
exercise of that freedom If speech npoa political
questions which is the boosted preIogavve Of every
American citizen, he was believed to be opposed
to those in whom the power at that day was vested
of appointing snd removing ut pleasure the Cnief
EBeiLeer Of the Department. When the announce
ment was made t6at he had been removed, aud
that Ryker Was to sucees6 him, the ire was undor
control and had been nearly extiD gushe but under
the exctemens 0f the occasion general suspension
Of labor eDsued and almost universal burst Of In
d'gnation rose from rank to rank AZ the unpro-
cedented and uncalledfor judgment W aich had been
visited upon him, ard regarded at the tme as pre-
nsditated anc objectionable insult to every member
OF the department. II may be that under mo
n..It~
thereby virtually reliuquishing hs command, and
u at others followed the example, but did then be-
heye, and have always Thought, that If 80, on
his part it was tine result OF accident, and not
of human kindness in the noble and generous
hearted man to permit himself to become the
Instrument Of infictipg a wrong upon the In
pocent to crafty spirit of revenge against tho
guilty. LET tbs, however, be as 1t may the result of
the precedent on the part Of the appointing power
was the Introduction into our ranks of spirit Of
characterization and oscord which led to the en-
tire abandonment of many Of the most valuable
and efficient companies. and bnt for the interoos
ton OF exempt firemen and other public spirited
citizens who tookpossession Of the apparatus under
the sanction and authority Of the Common Council,
might have resulted In tine most slarming and seri
GUS consequences. In these remarks d, not mean
to imply q CO psure upon the hon0red name Of Ryker
for value him as fireman and loved bin as man,
but to protest against the introduction Of principle
which has bad . bighting and whitening effect upon
the best interests and prosperity OF our institution
am awsre that curing the last few years prsju-
dice has existed in the minds Of many against the
present organization Of the department, in conse-
quence Of the apparent want Of discipline which has
too frequently create breaches Of the public peace in
times OF alarm and even during the existence of fires:
but am satisfied II the cause Of such outbreaks could
be traced to their proper origin, and brought home
10 the offending parties it would almost invariably be
found that they arose not with those who strictly
and legally members Of the department, but with .
class Of men and half grown boys, who are induced,
BY the excitement consequent upon fireman 8 life,
to attach themselves as volunteers or runners to
some fav0rite company, and feeling, as they un-
donbtedly are free from all responsibility in refer
ence TO the proper discharge Of Che duties Of the
members Of the department, not subject to It's re-
gulations or liable to any OF its penalties too often
indulge In spirit of jealousy leading to conteu-
t0ns with their follows ending In b,0ils and outrages
against the good order Of society, and endangering
their own lives and that Of others, aud which, for
want Of proper information, is at once seized upon
by the pubic press and given to the world as
serious charge against our valuable and selfsacric
ing firemen. These things ought not 80 to be, and
in view Of the serious evils which 50 frequently flow
from this source Ia il not worthy Of serious consi
derationIand pardon me, my friends, for the gu g.
gestionthe pr0priety IL not absolute necessity Of
breaking up an organization which has injured the
reputation Of your department, and brought CEN
sure upon those who are not only the advocates
Of order and discipline, but strict conservators
Of the public peace As prominent remedy
against the evils for evils they unquestioa.
ably are-would not the closing Of the engine aad
other houses in waich the apparatus are deposited
against all persons sexpect those who is entitled to
its use bavh tendency to abatc he ardOr OF those
TO VII m have alluded, and in process OF time to
divert tseir attention to other and more desirable
pursuit Let the volunteefs understand, aud 10,
the rule he stricly enforced that under no circum
st lnces are they TO have free access to the public
property, nor aay account.io remove tho apparatus
ircm their places Of deposit, without the presence
and sanction Of one or more members Of the com
pany; break up these volunteer associations BY
closing your houses against them, for nightly aud
Sabbath days resort, aud disc0untenance their in.
reference in any Of our duties and my word for it,
the time Is not distant when this department
will occupy tie high and commanding position
which in times past 1t was wont to do, wien cur
citze threw wide open their doors, aud extc1 ded
the right band Of hospitality in the preparation
and generous distribution Of suitable refresh
ments for those who labored in their behalf;
then. Of ii should always be, the badge Of ire.
man would be a passport to kind and friendly at
tention, and his presence welcomed as the barbin-
ger OF good; then the department would be as con.
spicuous for moral character as IL s now for noble
daring and self sacrificing devotion to the public
veal As an eyicence Of what our frsnien are, and
the position which they are entitled 20 0ccu3y in
the c0mur ity ve can point with pleasure to their
annual paraGcs which OF late gears have attracted
sncb general atfe ition, and formed the tlene OF
almost universal commendation. My friends,
would you but break up these spurious associations
and Danish PARTY politics from your ranks and from
the considerations OF the Common Couocil in legs-
lating upon matters arpertaining ito your in
tcrtsis, then, irdeed. you would occupy position
which others miaht justly .ttfve To initiate and at.
tain; thcn | believe, the purses OF our moneycd
men would more frequently be opened on Jour be.
half ard valuable increase to the charitable fund
of the association rapidly follow the success Of such
an eSpe Uncut; then we should again realise those
pelroy days when leading and influential citizens
would flock to your star dard anj enroll themselves
as members In your ranks; then your success DIS
may hereafter point to the nonored names Of such
men rs Jacob SheYred' Robert q. Cornell, John
Il. Willis, Garret II, Abecl, Robot Wardell, James
": Dominica, Michael N. Titus, Pete: sharp,
Jehuel Jsgg4r, Benjamin Demiil, James Hop
son, and q thousand others, who, in their day
were zeEous and active Bremen, and whose
name ard character to the department OF when We
might ell he proud. 1t is not only in the disch rgc
OF TIE more arduous end exposing duties Of the de-
partnent that the fireman commeads himself 10 On,
Sympathetic feelings and regard, FOR 10 has abo ler
ard moro delightful duty e. pc form, as tho dis