New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-19
OUR POLICE ~ ENGLISH EYES.

Mr. Charles Williams is a wcll-lnOwn Eng
lish journalist, one of that hardy race Of war
correspondents who are always to be found
wherever the British flag flies, and for whom
peril seems TO have no fears. Mr.. Williams is
now in this country, and has contributed to
"Ihc Contemporary Review" an account of the
New-York police, subject possessing some
thing Of military interest. The criticisms OF
such an observer may well be of interest The
compliments he pays the force, and they are
not few, are less important and can be disre-
garded, Just as we disregard from different
motive, the vulgar and malicious attacks some
times mado upon the country in general by
English persons who have left it little richer
than they came. of which class Miss Florence
NIarryat seems to be the latest representative.
The Americans have passed beyond the pro-
vinciaI stage where they care very much either
for praise or abuse, but intelligent suggestions
never come amss to an intelligent people.
Mr.. Williamss first criticism is that the
Ncw-YOrk police are perhaps too ready to
resort TO force" He Says that the order of the
streets, so far az ii is under the control of the
police, is ga credit to the community" marked
contrast to the condition of the streets as shown
in the pavement and distractions, which he
frankly-and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. as eds
graceful" But both the day and night club,
he declares. arc to be forever seen in the hands
of the men, and are used to an extent to which
the London public would not submit. lie
mentions the example of an officer ordering the
crowd back in front of the Union Club on
"Labor Day" and before they all had time to
hear him. throwing himself ut the throng and
pushing them back. waving his club above his
head and then shaking it at them. This was
unjusiiiablc roughness, to be sure. but hardly
deserves =" H. "o'ind violrnrr n NAV he that
the police still have something to learn in the
way Of suavity of bearing. but cases Of I'M
justifable clubbing arc rarely heard Of now
adays. In that and in many other respects
the NcwYorIS police unqucstionably show
vast improvement Of late years.
The fact is noticed that our police have
many things to do which the London police
would not care to undertake. these extra func-
tions amounting to a considerable degree Of
Maternal government. The special reference
here is to the work done in the inspection Of
tcnemcnt-hOuscs, and the enforcement of health
laws. etc Tho excuse for this Mr.. Williams
finds in the fact that New-York has in summer
diHloNb IL tIoplCdl tIIlildlt uNidNS III SdHl-
tary matters are dangerous. THE TRIBUNE
has recently been directing public attention to
the iced OF abolishing the absurd
system Of keeping parks even in
the heart Of the city under a different police
government from that which prevails outside.
Mr. Williams pronounces the system "ridIcu-
lousv The house OF detention for witnesses
In criminal cases naturally attracted an Eng
lishman's attention. ats existence" he says.
"scems to he simple invasion Of the funda-
mental personal rights of individuals as guar
antecd by the Constitution. and understood and
accepted without written authority in every
free country" He gives the police credit for
earnest work against the gamblers, but says
public opinion docs not support these efforts
a criticism which most New Workers will think
ilI-foundcd.
Mr.. Wiliams's account is by no means free
from errors, but its spirit is commercially fair.
The Ncw-Yorl, police unQucstonably' dcscrve
the praises he bcstOws upon them. AS force.
it now challenges admiration. and is worthy to
rank with that Of the other great cities of the
world