New-York tribune., 1885-01-21
TIE POLICE And THE SPARRERS

Two of the Police Com mssiOners give an ex-
planation of their position and policy as to
sparring matches in The TRIBUNE this morn
ing. What they say is plausible, though it is
not vet clear that they were unable to prevent
the Sulivan-Ryan affair altogether. Police
Justice Duffy had promised to issue warrants
for the arrest of the pugilists on any proper ap-
plication. Such an application might have been
made by member of the Police Department.
The police answer 10 this is that under Judge
Barretts decision the Department cannot pre-
vent an exhibition of boxing. 1T can only IN
terfere when the blows exchanged pass beyond
the bounds of ordinary civility. But what an
absurd position of affairs results Shccdy and
Sullivan and Ryan are allowed to hire the Mad
ison Square Garden announce boxing match
in which the question of superiority be-
tween the two foremost fighters of the
country shall be settled, sell thousands
of tickets, pack the building with
people, and then as soon as the men have ex-
chan gcd a. few harmless blows Inspector
Tholne bustcs in to part them, followed with
great apparent reluctance by Captain Williams
with his mighty club. The boxers are not awed
by the Inspector but the Colossus of the
Twenty ninth Precinct forces them back to
their seats and pulls of their gloves.
The great multitude of spectators Is thor
oucbly dissatisfied and has reason to be.
If either boxer had been knocked OF his feet,
if Sullivan's nose had been set awry or Ryan's
eve badly bruised, Inspector Thornc would
have had some warrant for interference. But
nothing criminal vicious or dangerous had yet
occurred The two men had thumpcd each
other with good deal Of emphasis. Ryans
thumpiIr being little more effective than Sui
liyan'a. but no damage had been done. The
young amateurs in our gymnssiums in their
dailv bouts leave more marks on each other
than either RYAN or Sullivan now shows. II
Iu,pector Thorne will attend one of the boxing
matches at the Racquet Club, or the amateur
championship contests which the New-lo ork
Athletic Club gives, he will see biackcned eyes,
bruised noses and swellcd heads IN profusion.
But excessive sympathy for Sullivan, OF cx-
trcne tenderness of conscience, or "A crushing
sense OF responsibility as master of ceremonies
under Judge Barrctt's rules, which have taken
the place of the eiicte regulations of tho Mar
onis of O.. prompted the Inspector to rush IN
where angels might well fear to tread unless
they were panoplicd i'll steel.
We don't wish To be understood as regrct;ing
that Ryan was not given time i'll which to
KNOCK out" Sullivan, IA he might, perhaps
have succeeded in doing if the police had kept
their hands oil The Boston champion
was plainly getting worsted. But the
world will not suffer seriously if
the question of Ryan's ability to stop" or
knock out" Sullivan is never settled. Yet a
good many thousand people lamentcd griev-
ously that Inspector Thorne would not permit
a little nearer approach to "a solution Of the
problem. and most of those in the Garden
would have rejoiced over decided victory for
Ryan. Sulivan's drunkenness, brutality and
bad temper have made him extremely unpopu-
lar even with the masses tn IT like TO see spar
ring. Then, too, the common CRU lge against
an unbroken career of success would have been
satisfied. Champions who win many battles
stir up new envy with every new triumph If
Bismarck's most cherished schemes should mis-
carry. if Lord Woseley shouldbc overwhelmed
with disaster, il a new play by Dumas should
prove "a Hat failure, if Patti should be hisscd, if
the peerless race-h horse st. Simon should be
beaten, an immense number of people would
exult secretly if not openly. And il Sullivan
should be " knocked ont " Il shout of satisfac-
ton would go up in every land where the cx-
plots of prize fighters are talked about In
sprctor Thone has made Il great many enc
mics.