The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-08-15
SATURDAY, AUG. 10, 1885.
POWERS OF THE POLICE.

A sentiment in n correspondent
letter on the opium question the
other day suggests consideration of
the powers of the police in suppress
ing crime. Referring to the pro.
hibtion of opium our correspondent
said, "Indeed am of opinion that
with an efficient police force, invest
ed with full authority and protected
as they ought to be in the discharge
of their duty, the prohibitory law on
the statute book could be made
thoroughly operative None will
deny that there may be such an evil
as too much privilege and power
delegated to the uniformed officers
of the peace. A very great evil it
is in some countries. There are ma
tons of Europe where policemen are
given commissions so broadly drawn
as to enable them to enter the
dwelling of any man, upon a breath
of suspicion bedewing his name.
They may ransack his house,
his bureaus, his desk, to OBJ
tain evidence duplicating him in an
offense against the authorities, or
some plot endangering the public
peace. Such police privileges must
involve, in many cases, very humili-
ating situations to the most estim-
able Of people. Unjust suspicion of
criminality will naturally be produc-
tive. in certain temperaments, of
disaffection with the established Or
der, which is liable to develop into
the disease the irksome system is
designed to cure. Ruling dignitares
or bodies that deem it essential to
maintain so rigorous an espionage
and oversight among and over the
community, for the maintenance
either of their own positions or the
public safety, would most likely,
upon investigation, be found to be
themselves the creators of the pre-
sumed necessity. By screwing down
the safety valve too tightly upon
public opinion and free speech, lest
ancient and e-dishonored abuses
by which they live and thrive be
withered in the MONDAY glare OF
liberty, they have produced dan
gerously high pressure in public
spirit, which upon any sudden eX-
element may produce a destructive
explosion. BY using extreme meas
ures to prevent the utterance of free
popular sentiment opposed to pre-
scribed state policy, they are only
carrying out process of forcing
back into the generator the vapol
that, escaping into the air of free
dom, would be perfectly harmless
Thus they aggravate, instead of re-
ducing, the risk of catastrophe.
An abnormal system of govern
ment by the means of police, how
ever, is not to be considered in til,
discussion of methods for over
coming the evils that most afiiict ant
threaten this country. Such con
dition of things is entirely beyon'
the apprehension of sensible peopl
here, and would not be mentioned i
the present connection were it nc
that all sorts of imaginary abuse
are likely to be predicted as the re
suits of any extension of the scop
of police powers, no matter ho'
real the necessities may be fo
making changes in that direction
1t is common to find the advocate
of greater license in questionabl
practices trying to rally support fo
their positions, by attempts to max
& the well,doing people of the CON
munity believe the cause of tn
- wrong-doing or the evil-disposed t
be their cause, or the dangers tina
overhapg abominable interests to b