The weekly sun. (New York [N.Y.]) 1851-1869, 1861-09-14

TnE Metropolitan Poli'o IL a great in,titG-
iion-for cool or evil. That is, IT, powers are
extraordinary an enormous. There Is no won
der that among pcopl, jealous Of liberty,
strong and inyc,,rate opposition should he main.
tanned against the existence ola system which
places in the hands Of the State Executive, a
standing army Of picked organized aud drilled
Officers, holding every foot of ground under
patrol, and welding absolute and arbitrary at
thority, for police VurpUcs, over every indi-
vidual, in a di trict Of million inhahitaut-
Nothing but the eNtr1odint-y eNigcnec, Of "a
great and denacl, croSiel city, rotten to the
core Of It's political organization, could fore,
this community to tolerate such an anomil,
among republican institutions. AMI no,hiu.
bu, a stern purity, stJliou, regard 10 law aud
rights and rigorous Accountability for mi.
conduct, in the discipline Of the ritcc. can pre-
serve such de-potic system from early de-
,'nictip.
We think that with all is fault the admins
tration of the State Police :, stem Of this ciy
has been in the main wcr-u,cntioned 80 far, and
productive Of vast anil Increasing god. Lucr
the present Superintendent, the police force 10
constantly improving, in mlnEcrs AMI morals,
in physical superiority and cll irartcr in gentle
manly appearance and sclErcsprct We have
much and growing reason to feel proud II tn
appearance and conduct Of this fin body O.
men.
But this is not enough. Much ROMANS to hc
done in the way of discipline, which the Super.
intendent cannot touch AMI which the Police
Commissioners are unwilling to touch There
is also settled tendency in the nature Of the
system towards the two cardinal dan gers of cor.
ruptcn and oppression, which must be contcndc,
against with sleepless vis.r anil vigilance 10y
the Commissioner, if they would pcrpctuatc tn,
existence aud usefulness Of their department o
public service. by making it as perfect, as he
nehecnt, and as harml's So, ~ II is possible Ter
human administra, on to be, they can secure
In public favor against al the efforts Of dcmi
sogues for ever. Ry allowing it to dcgenc.at,
in personal character and discipline or to be
csme arbitrary, oppressive to individual liberty
aud practically irresponsible, they can arouse d
hatred against II which viii know no bounds
and will listen to no pea or argument for it
continued existence.
ing-vtry serious and pointed warning. tn,
dangers We have indicated are actually rife
both in the nature 1nl present administration o
the system To certain extent the tendency
10 corruption and oppression q, in feet realized
elready, and must he arrested or in its ultimate
progros' We shAll lose on, Of two things either
our admirable police y-tcm, or our personal
liberties. Evidences not unGcqucntly tran
spire, Of gross misconduct and abuse Of power
by policemen, sustained in the BOARD Of Police
Commissioners by tie grosse,t flyortism, aud
sometimes by a stolid AMI supercllious ahso.
lutism.
One Of these evidences we are ah,u, to hrinl
before the public, in the threeiold interest q
private rights, Of public liberty, and Of an iii
Gent and permanent police. II is our pur
pose 10 watch these men NhO rule over %
with such a fearful authority, more sharp
ly and censoriously, and keep them risu-
ously on their defence before Tie people
for everything in their Official condur,
right or wrong, which is not open, clear, an,
above suspicion. We shall begin tomorrow
with a story Of recent outrage which will max
the ears Of every one that hear. il to tin 4
This outrage, not only uLrelrc--cl but -u,t,in,
by the 5pirit of iavori,.sm or abgoluti-m in IA
Police Board ought to move t. million iuhs
btant, Of tho Metropolitan Dt.tdet-nqy, III
people Of the whole state, if necessary AS ur
man, 90 demand redress and punishment
Through ,he removal Of the whole Police Boa
II they rluse it, and Ii That be refused, throu
a revolution in the Executive 1T the stale % ,,