New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-01
BYRNES DECLINES THE HONOR.
THE TITLE OF AMERICAN CITIZEN GOOD ENOUGH
TOR I'M.

THE TITLE OF AMERICAN CITIZEN GOOD ENOUGH
IOE HIM.
Inspector Tyracs IN company with Police Clmmi,-
soucr Martin, called ~ the Mayors Office shortly after
noon yc,i"iday, examined the decoration, which Wa
IN the .d of Private secretary spccr awaiting his do
po,al and not finding the Mayor present lett the fol
IOwE.e communication:
Hon. Hugh ). Grant Mayor Of tho CITY Of New YORK.
~lt nave no h0iu ip a'khp"ItdSo ne receipt 90
your communication al Yesterday. informing me that
there had been piC"i IN Your hands, by the consul
General Il IULy, f.F TRANSMISSION 10 he, the diploma
Of my appointment a. Ctvhl"r OF the Crown 81 u n.y.
together with the decoration accompany NJ that rlHk
IN reply 70 your iloAoss communication, beg to
which | have icon elected by the King Of ltIly, ia
ccDfeTriug upon ne distinction rif" and 20 greatly
valued regard lil' hi,ro a, % compliment puu 10
the police force oi this cy Of which ara proud - be
member. tan a' a tribute to any desert. Of mine.
NHdltNcf srtNI'c j. ma been my piFiIcI' I" IcHu-I
To mly 1a IN ,. e NJ dly my a Gd Gtp G b
40 cIctHuny performed l1r tue hnhiD,st c'ltA eli
II viii always be source O Emtincatlon to me NAV
~ l'ilutl.''l an h"hor has bqch placed al HJ ~
pp-a b} thc human" and enlightened ruler of - power
ful NdI"h' ana beg to assure you That am trty
grateful Tor III; hlndhc' Wllth prompted inc El l''
- aa American citizen feel that / must decline tie
high honor sought - be conferred
10 my mind there +, no human distinction greater
than thc pogd consciousness of being citizen II TN,
rom Wul -,urcc IT comes or how distinguished il may
be- in the estimation Of nations add to the nobility
Permit me- your Honor 10 ask you 10 convey to the
Consul General of Italy, and through him 10 hi, GOV
and the Of my highest esteem regard fOi
himself and hi, people. Mlth great respect
THOMAS BNKNES, chief Inspector Of Police
New York. Feb. -, 1891.
After he had delivered his communication, the In
spcctor and Commissioner returned 10 Police Head
quarters.
Ait.r his return 10 Police Headquarters from the
Mayor, Office. Inspector Byrnes showed 70 C0mms
sioncrs McCave, Martin aud Nooris, copy Of his
letter Mayor Grant and they commended the course
which he had taken saying that they thought he had
acted with good judgment. They said that they had
not attempted influence him. having trusted to his
good sense. To his friends Headquarters Inspector
Tyrnes said that be had been inclined at first 10 accept
the honor, thinking that such action might be con-
,dered accepting an honor conferred upon th1
police force through him, but he had discovered tlAi
inerc impression mat he could not sllro the
distinction with hi, coliIadcs
To a Tribune reporter he said: 81 made up my
mind 10 write that letter after thinking the sub
feet IN all lie bearings, particularly 10 what ofcct
tho acceptance OF suCh honor would havo upon the
department. ! decided that it would be- un-Anerican
10 take such "A mark Of distinction, aud might give 10
tLe public and 10 other members Of the force wrong
idea of my aims and feelings official. There Is
contains my reasons IN full. and only say that
nrrer 10 be a plain inspector Of police without any
mn. except that Of American citizen"
secretary Spccr Will 10 mOrrOw, by Mayor Grants
diroctlOu. vet Consul General RVd, at the italian
Cnnsul,te and return Ia him the insignia and accom-
nanying documents from Rome, and present him with
,,1nv OF Chief Inspector Byrnes'S letter.