The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-05

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restore the prosperity Of the regions devastated
bv the war; and he cordially invites the
whole country, embracing call divisions,
geographical, political, and religious" to
unite in a common effort in promoting the
greatness Of the Republic. and in fastening
its elevation to a proud pinnacle among the
nations of the earth.
The Case Of Policemen Hussey and Irons.
THERE appears to be a systematic effort being
made by the Democracy to drive all the Rs
publicans from the police force. Mayor Fox
has given great offense to the hungry horde
Of party followers who expected him to make
clean sweep when he came into Office. His
determination to keep good and efficient
officers In the police force, without regard to
their political predictions, has been con-
sidered as an evidence Of his intention to deal
fairly, honestly, and justly in the administration
of affairs, having regard rather for the good of
the community than for the mere rewarding
and Furnishing of political friends and enc.
mics. However satisfactory this course might
be to the decent, law-abiding citizens, it did
not at all suit the ideas of the men who
worked for the election Of Mr.. Fox, and they
are now clamorous for their reward, and seem
likely to succeed in their efforts to get control
of the police force. Thirty -four officers have
resigned their badges, upon the plea that the
Mayor and Chief of Police do not extend to
them proper protection in the performance of
their duties. These designations have been
promptly accepted, and staunoh Democrats
Immediately appo inted to the vacancies.
The cause OF this action on the part of some
of the most faithful and efficient members OF
the force was the arrest and Imprisonment OF
officers Hussey and Irons. These policemen,
with three others, attempted to make an arrest
in drinking saloon in the Twenty ffth ward.
Subsequently, while on duty, and in the mid
die of the night, they were arrested on war
rants issued by Alderman Dewitt, hurried to
his Office in the Third ward miles away from
the place where the disturbance took place,
and they were committed to prison, the
Alderman refusing to accept the bail that was
offered. 1t has always been the custom, when
an officer gets into difficulty Of this kind, for
the Chief of Police to enter bail immediately
and procure his release; but in this instance
the present Chief made no effort in favor Of
the officers, and the Mayor has stated in sub
stance that he considered the case as one in
which he had no right to interfere, and the
officers were allowed to remain in prison
thirty six hours before Alderman Dewitt could
be satisfied with the character Of the bail
offered. ..
The animus of these arrests is sufficiently
shown by the officers being dragged from their
posts in the Twenty. fifth ward to an Alder
mans Office in the Third ward; and the whole
conduct Of Dewitt shows q determination on
his part, and on the part of those who inoited
him, to harass the policemen as much as pos
sible, and either procure their dismissal or
else oblige them to resign. The refusal of the
Mayor to interfere makes him a party to this
rnfianly scheme, and it would have been far
more to his credit to have dismissed the Re-
publieans from the police force at
ence, and given their places to his
party friends, rather than to have
countenanced such proceedings. If the Mayor
cannot protect his officers from such outrages
as were perpetrated in the case of Messrs.
huSoOy eau Ai~h4S3 Va ~ AA0 uVoo NV iooi Su1iA-
cient interest N them, the sooner the man
agement of the police force is taken out of his
hands the better it will be. As the matter
now stands, the Republican members of the
force feel that they are at the mercy of such
representative Democrats as Alderman Dewitt,
who is not only able to clap them into prison,
but to keep them there without any danger Of
interference from the Mayor, District Attor-
ney, or Chief of Police. The excuse offered
by Mayor Fox yesterday was very lame indeed,
and the statements of Alderman Dewitt were
oontradicted point blank by the sworn evil
dence OF Mr.. Crummey, who offered himself
as bondsman for Officer Hussey, but was
refused. Dewitt also refused to give tran
script of the case, remarking that Hussey and
lrons would have happy time in getting out
Of prison. This affair does not affect merely
the officers who have been annoyed, but every
citizen of Pbiladelphis is interested, for the
efficiency of the police force and the protec-
tion of life and property depend upon the
officers being secured against such outrsges
in the future.
The "Grihth GaunC' Libel Suit.
DURING the publication OF Charles Reade s
novel OF Griffith Gaunt," in the Atlantic
| MODtbJU IL w varv savaraly i.