New-York tribune., 1878-11-11

In almost every calamity there is cause for con-
graduation The most obstinate optimist seems
justified in saying: "It might have been worse"
Everybody will naturally say this of the great fire
at Cape May. A cOnflagration which devoured
eleven hotels and some thirty cottages might easily
have occurred during the height OF the fashionable
season. and just as easily have broken out at night
In such case we might have been obliged to add loss
Of life to loss of property Indeed, we do not see
how any guest could have retired to rest quite
at ease in one of these great pine caravansares, es
pecally if he knew what is now known, that tile
facilities at Cape May for exingushing fires were OF
the most limited character-One ancient hand en-
gine and one or more of the patent portable fire
extinguishers comprising the whole apparatus There
is abundant reason for Ocing that the loss can be
estimated in money, with the more important ee-
ment of human life left ont Perhaps there can be
no more striking example of faulty than this
shinge town of Cape Nav presented before it was
reduced to ashes There had been several warnings.
There had been several considerable fires there
before yet there were no additional precautions
indeed there were no precautions at all, that
when the catastrophe came it necessary to send
nncty-sx miles for fire engines
-Four or five times usually in a year, something
shows the need of n detective system more efficient
Society is perhaps apt to be unreasonable. 1t
expects repetition of the wonderful things re-
corded in story-books ard recalls the exploits of
Yidocq of Mr. Bucket. 1t takes it for granted
that because we have detectives at all, they must
be infailibie in theories and always successful in
the working up of dIfIicult 1t has heard of
their occasional successes but not so much of their
failures. Undoubtedly n certain proportion Of
criminal mysteres VIII always remain mysterious,
and Of great offenders some will always escape the
penalties of the law. The old pI'yerb, "murder
VIII out" does not necessarily imply the discovery
Of the murderers Several memorable murders IN
this city are to this day unexplained. Who killed
Dr. Burde Who killed Mr.. Nathan? These qucs-
tious remain and are likely to remain unanswered.
1t is possible that the perpetrators of the Manhattan
Savings Bank robbery and the wretches of ST.
Marks may also escape discovery But so long as
they remain undiscovered they will serve the
strongest possible argument in favor OF thorough
reform of our whole detective system.
Lester Il. Faulkner's extraordinary betrayal of his
Democratic CONSTITUENCY IN becoming a candidate
for Chairman of the State Committee after SOL
cmnly agreeing to vote for Mr.. Purcell, seems
to have been appreciated at his home. Mr..
Peck. Democratic lawyer of Nundn, openly de-
nOunced Mr. Faulkner IN the County Convention,
and declared him traitor TO the Democracy of the
State Later on Mr.. Peck issued a circular III which
he dealt, with much planness, with various pecu-
liar features Of Mr.. Faulkner's rcputatiOnpOltical
and Otherwise. Lastly, Mr.. FaulkneTs candidate
for Judge of Livingston County buried under
an adverse majority Of 200. This was en-
phatc response to the dcnupciatons poured upon
Mr. Faulkner by the men who elected him to the
State Committee, and by his Acknowledgements IN The
home convention.