Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-26
DIR. PARkHURsTs CRUSADE.
How the New York Clergyman Has
Put the Police ON the Defensive.

now the New York Clergyman Has
Put the Police on the Defensive.
Holland" the New York correspondent
Of the Philadelphia Press. writes:
Whatever may be the estimate of Park
bursts motives or the judgment OF the
wisdom of the manner of his attack, enc
pre-eminent fact is now acknowledged. ard
that is that he has by the pure force CT
agitation compelled not only the pubic OF
New York city to heed him and give some
ear to what he says but he mas attracted
the attention OF the entire country TO the
condition in New York OF which he conn.,
planned.
That is a moral victory which has not
been won by agitation since the days of the
anti-slavery crusade, and Parkhurst's
methods have been something like those OF
Phllilps and Garrison, and in some respects
like those of O'Connell Of whom Pa:knurst
is a great admirer.
BY the simple power of agitation in the
pulpit through The press. AMI supplemented
py some work not very extensive. Done by
the officers of the society OF which he y
president Parkharst has done what no
politician, no mayor or go-ernor has been
able to do for thirty years; he has nut Tie
ntire police force upon he defcnpiye. has
frightened the Commissioners, caused them
TO seek to unload their responsibilities i.t,or.
.ne superintendent AID his suSoijinases.
brought about a condition of friction, to
say the least, between SuperInt len len. Byrsics
and the commissioner and as IL now
seems likely, is going 10. furnish New York
with a revelation Of the money corruption
upon which 2s a 70 Indation tie police de-
partment stands
DIR. Parkhurst AntagonfEed.
When Parkhurst began his crusade they
sneered at him. They entered into plots 10
iHghten his agents. ami aid keep one in
prison many months before the nisner
courts discharged him. Some one tried to
alarm Parkhurst himself, but their threats
fell upon as needless ears as were those
which were directed ior many years against
Wendell Phillips or William Lloyd Galri-
son.
They undertook tn mislead the public lsv
declaring that ParkhursI was trying TO sup
PIGMENT the duties of the police ly e,.sau-
ing IN wholesale raids upOn disorderly places.
anu tney attempted 10 disgust the corlmun-
lty with Parkaurst AID mis- methods by
forcing as much they we-e able to do
OF some shocking things which DR. Park
hurst felt IL his -iuty TO witness in order that
ne might know OF MS own knowledge the
depths OF oepravity which under the eyes
OF the police existed in New York
But that kind VI atIacx did hot swerye
Parkhurst and no attacks have, and therein
he reveals the qualities of q moral bero
Whatever the judgment may DE as 20 his
purposes and methods. He was not Divert
60 py side issues. and at last the Pablo
came 10 full Understanding of what his
purpose is and that IL to show the cstj-
zens of New York that vice exists o.,enIy
because the police pro.sct At. that the police
protect IL because they are required TO pay,
from the humblest loorman 10 the highest
ofhcer, a bonus TO some one in authority for
their appointment aal that the Gystem of
!evyins olackmau has become SO general
that II has been reg lrded as a par of the
DUTY OF the police force to collect these IN
lawful tributes.
Extent of Blackmafl
Before the winter rs past it Is probable
that Parkhurst Will pe aole ID show and
under the Formally Of oath. that police can
tains have been compelled TO pay all the
way from $4,000 to Si5UUO for thejr an
pointment; that serjesn.s in some Cases
have paid as much az 5000; that hounds
men have found that Il costs Ut least $500
to secure such appointment and 2atrobnen
several hundred dollars.
This money goes 10 some enc in authority
Parkhurst believes that The commissioners
or some Of them receive IL, and that they
know that the captains and subordinates
expect to get their money Lack by Jeyvsng
tribute upon those wno Violate the law
According to the Information which he
has, in the gflded districts OF the city the
tribute paid by 6nose who keep irninoraI
resorts has been from $500 to $500 for open-
ing them and from sJo 10 slvO a week thele-
after.
Proprietors of gambling Eells have been
expected 10 pay 800 a v eek and those who
violate the excise law from $50 TO 500 a
week, these sums being proporIionase 70
their custom and ability.
1t ought to be SAID that there is no charge
and DIR. Parkhurst has never even mated
at such a thing nat Superintendent Byrnes
has dirued his hands with blackmail Byrnes
is understood to be Well Of. but Ills associa-
ton and his very 'aluabie services in his
relations with wealthy men and men upon
Vail street have, AZ is beliey ed, enabled him
TO take advantage OF some opportunities
that have occurred upon the exchange.
What Parkhurst complains of is iEat
Byrnes must know OF the practices which
defile the police jepar unsns m tais respect
and has never lifted his finger 10 put a stop
10 them. But Byrnes. powerful as he is n
nevertheless subordinate To The cCramis-
sioners.
farKnurst has the police on the defensive
he has commanded nlucn of respect as a
moral viStory creates. lie mas learned self
control ana .ias revealed OF Late sasrt.C ;llsng
OF executive ABILITY VIII. n heretofore he VAS
not suspected of possessing.
he shows his discretion by the wisdom
and patience with which he bides his time
and by the fact that he does not discharge
his ammunition at a single assault He NAV
he a crank, a deluded enthusiast but he
has done what no man since Beecher's day
has been able to do in this city.