The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-09
Parl1hurst Against the People.

PARKHuRsT confosscs In his vindictivo re-
ply to Superintendent BYRNES that he has
been doEGing Tho footsteps OF officers of
tho municipal Government. and lie under
takes to Justify the use OF such methods by
private citizen on tho plea that we have
gone quito long enough without watching
our city officials
Tho Watching of the city officials goes on
all the time. They arc always under public
observation so far as concerns their con-
duet in matters which affect tho public
welfare. They are subject to the most
critical scrutiny in the discharge of tho
duties OF their places of trust. The whole
newspaper press is watching them con-
stantly. and their political opponents arc
ever on the lookout to catch them tripping.
with view 10 taking partisan advantage
of their mischances and shortcomings.
The police more especially are under this
constant popular and journalistic criticism,
for they are made conspicuous by their uni
form. That is the reason why they are re-
CURED to wear it when on duty. That this
observation is sharp and merciless is shown
by the circumstance that SO many OF the
force are brought before the Police Com
missioners to be tried for both petty and
grave departures from the line of conduct
expected and required OF them by the pub
lie and their immediate official supcriors.
a policeman is a marked man. So Also and
in the degree of the prominence Of his Off
cial place. every officer of the municipal
Government is marked man. AS he goes
about he is recognized by thousands where
only scores recognize tho personality Of an
ordinary private citizen.
This watching Of our city officials pro-
cecds so steadily. and it is so impossible for
them to escape from it. that only private
malice and not any public interest can
prompt the setting Of private and profess
sional detectives on their track, after tho
fashion Of which PARKHURsT boasts. They
are the servants Of the public. and their
tcnhre of their places depends on the pub
lie judgment of them.
That judgment was rendered last month
at the polls. After PARKHURsr had been
vifying and bounding them for nno
months they received a verdict OF approval
and confidence moro emphatic than had
ever before been returned at an election OF
municipal officers. BY a majority of more
than $1,000 the citizens of New York rejected
tho charges Of PARKHURsT against them,
and declared their will that the Govern
ment OF New York should be continued
by the very meu he Swallowed and vitu-
pcratcd. and by tho methods lie de-
nounccd and fought against in way SO
infamous. The people sustained their
municipal servants and condemned PARK
HURST and his dcbauchery. His subterra-
mean methods Of attacking the public au-
thoritics proved utterly Intellectual. Tho
citizens voted that the policy OF the admin
istration OF tho town should continue I'M
changed. Except among the natural Re-
publican enemies OF the Democracy. this de-
cision was made unanimously by the people
ard the newspapers of New York.
Tho assault which PAGKIIUEsr now makes
on tho officials Of tho city is accordingly
directed against the two-thiriG Of the citi-
zcns who declared SO emphatcally their
approval Of tho conduct OF the SO public
servants. 1t is. rs no says. ~ baltic be-
tween purity and lechcry." and the ,lecency
Of the community has decided it against
the minister who covered himself with the
filth Of the lowest moral degradation in
his search for weapons with which to carry
on the contest.