New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-25

The Police of this City still continues subject
of the most general and pressing interest. The
new position suddenly taken BY Mr. ChOlwell has
impeIed an immensely of caucusing, gossip, scan
dsl and perhaps SANDER. Interesting as this may
be regarded, we have chosen to keep clear Of it.
1t suffices that Mr. Cholwell may be regarded as
henceforth practically Wood man, and the Board
thus equally divided. And the fact that Mr.. ORA
pers place cannot probably be filed is widely COM
mented on as involving serious disaster.
But why should it be flled' Why should not the
Board be ted What public harm is to result
from the Board remaining as at present say
there are three or four hundred more policemen 70
be appointed, and that virtual concurrence OF
both sides of the Board will be required to appoint
them, what of itl Who desired that they should
all be taken from one party We certainly did
not. Up to this hour, We believe we have signed
testimonials for more Democratic applicants for
places on the Police than for those Of our own
party. We came reluctantly and tardly into the
support of the new Police Act, in order not to Sc
cure Police of our own party, but to obtain one
which sheud not be a mere Pratorian Guard for
Fernando Wood. This end has been practically
attained. Woods own headstrong folly has broken
I'D and dsbanded the old Police, nodded by himself,
composed almost wholly of men devoted to his po-
litical fortunes. He had point to gain-the re
establishment Of his personal ascendency in the
COUNCILS of the City Democracy-and he has gained
it though at terrible cost to bis Police adherents
He is now ready IN take a new shear-so let him.
This necessity Of triumphing over the Seven
Sachems and the formidable opposition to him In
trenched in Tammany Hall is Woods only excuse
for his recent madness. But for this, he would
naturally have asked his fellow Police Commission.
ers to dinner-not necessarily OF the bran-bread
order-immedately after the passage of the Police
Act and had courteous and full consultation and
comparison of views with them. Under the molli-
flying influences of good cheer and good feeling, the
outlines of practical Police Reform would have
been agreed on which would have rid the De-
partment of two or three hundred officers who
were at once nuisance to it and reprOach to him.
self, while the great body of the old force would
have been permanently fixed in their places at the
enhanced pay. He would have saved his money
since squondered on lawyers, and avoided stunning
defeat, and the City would have realized moderate
measure of Police Reform, and been saved the
tcandalOus collisions and riots which his criminal
folly has excited. The two or three hundred uuft
mt II dropped from the Police would of course have
been taught to attribute their misfortune to the
BLACK Republicans" and Fernando would have
stll enjoyed their confidence and devotion. We
repeat, that he has played away the bulk Of his Po
lcemen in fighting not the "Black Republicans"
nor the Albany Regency, but the Democratic re-
VOTERS frem his despOtic sway whom, by means of
bis desperate struggles he has disodged from their
stronghold, Tammany Hall.
This point having been made by him, while his
old Police has been sacrificed to attain it, we hold
that no motive exists for protracting the fight
The Board Of Police Commissioners is no longer
BLACK Republican," and the responsibility lapses
with the power. But neither has Wood MAORI
| " on his side; 80 there can be no pressure upon
him to put in this or that man because of party or
personal service Now, let the members of the
Board unite in giving us the best possible Police,
regardless Of party or politics. Even if Wood
should wish to stand out, he has no power to do
| anything And if he only asks for himself and
thOse WHO dCt Will I'LL tucii guee, cBiliHdeo Soicc
in filing the vacancies in the Department, we say,
let it be accorded heartily, promptly undeniaby.
Do not consent to the appointment Of unworthy,
incompetent men; but if fit men are proposed on
his part, let them be appointed at once, without
nquiriDg into any antecedents but those of per-
sonal character. And if the resignation of Mr..
Draper and the new attitude of Mr.. ChOlwel shall
have thus contributed to divest the Police Reform
of partisan character. we shall heartily rejoice
at the result.
The appointment ola majority of Republicans on
the Police COnm mission was . serious bunder
We knew it was well meant and that the Com.
missioners have erdeavored TO dvest the movement
If partisan character, but they could not escape
the responsibility nor the reprosch. Had the
Commission been originally composed Of two Re
publican, two Democratic and two American eiti-
zes Of high character all known to favor the great
object Of emsncipating the Police thoroughly and
permanently from all dependence on party politcs,
air would have gone well. From such Commits
/ sion, such men as Judge Whiting could not have
hesitated to take ofice; and it would have been
impossible to make any number of intelligent cit-
zens believe that its object was selfish and partisan
Let ~ profit by past mistakes, and lose no oppor-
tu1ity ~ correct them.
1t 10 safe to suppose that the art How Not to Do
1t has always filed large place in the work of
overnment hut v dare say IL has never been car