New-York tribune., 1870-04-09
THE SPHERE or THE POLICE.

SOCIAL SCIENCE LECTURE By PRESIDENT WOOL
SEY IN THE LOWELL INSTITUTE COURSE.
BOsrON, April This weeks lecture i'll the
Lowell Institute Course BY members OF the Social Science
Association was delivered by President Woosey OF Yale
College. The subject the Definition aud Sphere Of
the Police Power"
The lecturer remarked that the sui ject is concerned
with the science OF government rather than with the
body OF usually called the police Won Mo. who
has written at poce science separates what he
calls preventive Justice the prevention of those evils
which. when inflicted the individual would entitle
him TO redress through the courts from police properly
SO called or the securing Of the general welfare.
This promotion OF the public welfare has its limits in
individual right. &c, which were then spoken Of To
this classification OF departments the lecturer objected
first account OF tho name police which is oious to
OF those who speak English secondly the forms
OF state action Included under the head OF public vel
fare cannot wen bo grouped together some are OF
small compass, some OF vast importance Again, they
watch and Of the care OF roads are quito as well
resolved protection OF the rights Of individuals
teet the state some Of them as the supervision Over
brothels gambling and drinking houses. do really have
laneous under one head does lot very scientific
Tho lecturer would confine the name OF the police
TO those public authorities whose oee consists chiefly
IN greet prevention Of evil in guarding society
against disorder and crime, secret or violent Such
although exercised in different ways snd lodged
in different hands The modes of exercising 1t IL
Anglo Saxons. Prevention Is as important remedy
and punishment, and 1t grows In Importance as men
gatncr together In large masses The officers who have
this prGventiSe function will also naturally he the best
fitted to detect ana tlus they come into relation with
courts The lecturer here noticed an objection viz that
everything done for the eaG OF the public prevents
somo evil This admitted, but the distinction
made that in this prevention the very object
which the authorities exist. But polics power not
only preventive 1t Is also auxiliary It aids oil the
parts and all the interests OF society the State the
courts the individual the departments OF government
asthe financial aud the marine. Revenue cutters
police force for instance. against smugglers IL Is
then substantive independent power but called in
Tor the help OF other wers and OF tho Individual
ments: What they All States, tho reest have
the same general objects that police have
and ~ times OF danger obliged to the
for their protection But In "A police government an
called there the following First the
case of civil order Ia always regarded prime neces
slty Secondly the disorders apprehended re vol-
tlonary or at least political Third there Is consenra.
uon OF police power In the government Fourth secrecy
aud espionage carried ther In the police manage
fnent than ia free States The police of large cities was
tben noticed "a 10 approaches toward the police power
same power In rural districts The renatndor OF the lee
tufe was taken up with several Inquiries IN regard
TO the constitution and authority OF the police. First,
as 10 the question OF concentration the conclusion
was reached that the Departments OF Police
ought TO be separated when radically dstlnr,
and when locally distant. yet they ought to
cumsanoes to together Secondly. as TO tho mode
OF appointment Here the genus OF country re1uires
election by tho different local districts townships vii
ages aud cities Yet, IN large cities. the power of the
lions. presens TO us very serous problem While the
Transfer of tho appointments 10 tho Iegsature nv mn
mesns removes the difficulty. Thirdly AS 70 tho dr.
erelonhry power OF tho police, 1t was contendod that
The general principle. hDYeycr OF tho ~
!'u vhiciss peioona Tor tnct Official ats -'''R