New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-05
TIE METROPOLITAN POLICE.

Tho strike on the New-York Central Kali
road which has just passed INTO niS!ory
brought into prominence one 1rt' UPON ""i'n
al, orr citizens may we'll fe!icitate themselves
| That fact is the efficacy and trustworthihess
of the police force of this city. portion o'
orr pcople sympathized with the strikers, inc
,cst felt that the railroad had the r,Rht OF t"o
controversy: but all demanded that the alier,
cncos between employers and employees shouid
ho settled nv peaceful methods; that the law
sbould he respected and the existing good
o,dcr maintained. But strike as RUE
hreods y shirt of mischief. It is the oppor-
trn;tv for that element always 10 be found III
the population Of great caWtal such d. 'n'"
which thrives on disturbances. There was IN
deed nothing to fear in this instance from 'he
great body of the strikers, since they haa ho
diSnositlon to become lawbrealiers, buO thero
was good reason to apprehend that haneerS-on
in considerable numbers might render HE anu
property unsafe.
II was this contingency which proved "ha'
has 40 often been proved before, that our
\cw.York notice can DO depended upon. Alike
in fair weather and in foul they arc equal 70
the task of protecting tho city from all sorss
Of evil-doers by which it may he mehaoea'
From the beginning to the end OF the strike
| life and property were as secure rs tieS o,oi-
| narily arc. The knowledge that the ponce
authorities were wide awake to tho response
biIitics which devolvcd upon them had de'
| terrent influence upon the dangerous class
It kept quiet. 1t rofrained from kicking up
= row or a riot 1t behaved itself as we'll as
| il generally docs. no better. 10 worse:
one appreciates tho value OF tho services
| Of our policc during the strike when nc con-
,,asts them with those rendered by the police
of some of tho other cities oil the line OIL the
vnr.Yorl, Central. Take Albany, for OK
annie. There the strike would seem TO nave
had paralyzng effect upon Tie ponce. IL
was owing to tae confessed inability OF tne
local forco to afford the property OF inc ran,
road the protection which it sorcly needed
that led TO the employment OF PInkcrtoh
men. The Albany Journal" in calling at
,culion to this dis.racctul condition OF things
.,;d. ..Gcn,ine surprise is manifested o.!
| ,lhanians that this city government oil ours
is either unwilling or incompetent to
assert the rights and protect the property oi
the lar-c,, individual taxpayer III Albany"
our Ncw-York police laid itself open to no
such drastic criticism. and bccausn il did nor.
but. on the contrary, performed its whole duty
wei and faithfully with cqnal courage ana
discretion. it is entitled to the thanks OF the
entire community.
The truth is that, although Ncw-Iork po-
iccmon now and then act disGracrfliliy IN
isolated cases, Lctraying the interests which
they ought to guard, and fostering vice IN
stead o. virtue, the force. as whole under
the supervision of the Police Beard has MADE
| an admirable record. .Is whole 10 has never
failed to give 4 good account OF itScii. As
| whole il has proved equal to every emergency
with which il has hccn confronted.