New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-05
SCHREPTlTIOUSNES AND CRIME.

SCRREPT9TIOUSNESS AND CRIME.
| The resolution passed by the Police Board
in September. 1891, to which public attention
has been called by the action of President
Martin last Saturday, is characteristic Demo-
cratic document 1t is entirely il accord with
party precedent and practice, and finely illus
trates the natural tendency and temper of our
Democracy This was the action of the Police
Board upon communication from the Citi-
zens' Alliance asking for a more rigid enforce
ment of the Excise law. Observe that it was
taken two months before the last State cleo
ton in response to a request for the enforce
mcnt of the law against class of offenders
from whom the Democratic party derived very
large contributions for election purposes. No
tce the phraseology, that the Board "while
it on all occasions expects and requires the
police force to discharge its full duties, it dis
approves in general of any action on the part
of the force partakng of the character Of
sneaks or spies or of acting in surreptitous
manner in the discharge of its duties" See?
No solicitude at all for the enforcement of the
law that is expected as a matter of course {;
but since certain mcddesOme citizens have
brought the matter up the Board takes occa-
sion to warn the police against being too elf
cient and too jealous especially against acting
as "sneaks or spics' or doing anything "sur-
reptitous." The impression such a resolution
would make upon the average policeman would
obviously be that his official superiors would
rather the law should be broken a thousand
times than one arrest be made Sin sur
rcptitious manner"
This is quite Democratic. II follows the
party traditions. For forty years this party
has been all tumbled up for fear, not that
some great outrage or crime might he per-
petrated but lest something surrepttious might
be done to prevent it, Northern Democrats
were opposed-or said they wcre-to the cx
tension of slavery into the Territories but
when Kansas and Nebraska were opened their
chief anxiety was not lest the Border Rufans
should establish slavery there, but lest the
Northern emgrant aid societies should make
trouble by Surrepttiousy getting in ahead OF
them. In 1861 they were in a high state of
indignation because Mr.. Lincoln went through
Baltimore surrcpttiously. \ little later they
denounced Mr.. Lincolns Administration round
y for undertaking surreptitiousy to get pro-
visions to the garrisons of Forts Sumter and
should fall Il victim to secessionist assassins i'll
Baltimore than that he should get 10 Wash
inglon surrcptitiousIy better that the Sumter
and Piclcns garrisonS should he starved into
surrender than that they should be surrcp
iitiously relieved better disunion. better any
thing than the suspicion Of surreptiiiousncss.
IL seems to he the instinct of the party 10
fcttcr and clog the officers of the law, while
the ightfooted criminal is made secure of a
fair start through open doors. So all Though
the War they howled that the Constitution was
in danger at every step taken To put down the
rebellion. Pretending TO be in favor Of the
Union. they spent their whole time donouncing
as unconstitutional or surreptitious every meas
ure taken to preserve it, the call for troops,
the invasion of sovereign States the harboring
Of fugitive slaves in the Union lines, the en-
listmcnt Of cclorcd troops. the draft the issue
of grccnbacks, the arrests of traitors and spies
the Emancipation Proclamation, everything |
that was done, evoked only their hostility and |
is it n mere coincidence that |
The party which manfcsts such ScnSiivcncSS
est something improper or surrcpttiou> should |
be done for the prevention Of crime and the |
arrest Of criminals has the constant support Of |
he criminal classes that the nests Of crime
in the large cities are invariably It's strong
holds Of power and centres Of influence?