New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-17
HIS OPPORTT.yITT.

To very few men living has there come such
an opportunity as comes to Superintendent
BvrneS Other men have welded larger
mowers other men have held the same office
without the power to use it freely. But the
new superintendent is an exceptional man, and
is in an exceptional position. His past history
has prepared the whole force to expect from
him new things Public opinion has been I'M
usually aroused within the last few months.
and preparcd TO sustain with really unusual
earnestness and unanimity a faithful enforce
ment of the laws. Having at his command a
force unsurpassed in any other city for capa-
bility and discipline, and animated with loyal
disposition to carry out his ORDERS and having
behind him public opinion prepared to expect
great things from him and eager to sustain him
in great things, Superintendent Byrnes faces
an opportunity such as rarely comes to any
man. and never to any man but once.
He has not been partisan, and public opln-
ion will not ask him to become partisan
Whether straightforward enforcement of the
laws NAV help one party or another, he is moi
called upon to consider and public opinion will
not care. Men of all parties have faith enough
in him. and in the pride of fidelity to discipline
NnlCn he has SHOWN, W ptiltNc 'h"t III WIZ NV
knowingly disregard or distort the laws to serve
either party, and that is all that either has
right to oppose. If impartial enforcement OF
the laws does harm to either that Is not the
business of the Superintendent. Public opih-
ion will make it hot for any commissioner or
other official who may urge, against the pro-
test of the superintendent any violation or
distortion of law, or Partially III It's execution
for the sake of either party.
1t is not the function of the superintendent
70 pass Judgment upon the laws, or to repeal
those he may deem unwiSc. The people gov
ern. and when the laws arc llnpartlaIly ana
faithfully enforced, and only then, can they
determine inteligently whether they want those
laws changed Some laws there may he which
il is impossiblc. in the nature of things TO en-
force in all cases; more or less concealmcht
and evasion must always exist. The business
of the police force is to execute them without
portiatv. without compromise, and just As far
as il can.
No man knows better than Superintendent
Byrnes that certain unlawful vocationS ana
places of resort have been suffered 10 exist, un-
der such circumstances that the integrity OF
the Police Department has been questioned.
H. has been believed by many that lawbreakerS
have been tolerated, and even shielded from
the law by the police force, in consideration
of certain payments of money. Whether TINS
has been true in the past or not the pubic cX-
meets Superintendent Byrncs TO see that there
shall be no such shameful betrayal Of duty
hereafter. His orders already issued show that
he intends 10 put stop to it, and strictly en-
force the laws He may not. probably VIII
not. be able to suppress all sorts OF abuses III
4 day or n month and if there are corrupt mem
bers of the force they may for time hide their
infdelity even from the shreWdcst CHEF. But
thc public has right 10 expect that Supcrin-
tendent ByrncS will do all that an exception
ally competent and experienced man can do to
stop every such abuse
He knows that il is not an easy task. with
GOOD reason he considered seriously, according
10 his own statement, whether he would accept
the great responsibility offered him. and de
iberately decided. His eyes have been open.
lie knows whether lawbreakcrs and criminals
are counting upon official favor in return for
cash payments OF other services. The men 10
whom payments are made he may not yet know.
nor the object but Of the main fact, that vicious
places do pay tribute to somebody ana count
upon police protection aS result, Supcrntend-
cnt Byines is perfectly aware II they are
backmailed and if the police force Is di>hon-
ored by such Matchmaking. the superintendent
will make haste to stop it. II the power OF
the police is by any individual dishonesty and
corruptly used, he ought to stop that. The
public looks to him with great hope and stands
ready to sustain him just as far as he can 90
in faithful enforcement of the laws.