New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-11
IlmRpE1EING CONDONED.

LIWBPE1KING CONDONED
The public-sprited action Of T. Il. Kennedy
and other ci,izcns Of brooklyn i'm organizing
movement in favor of the prosecution Oh NC
Kane and the Gravescnd lawbrcakers IL 10 bc
heartily commended The people Of that town
have been profoundly impressed with the gray
ity of the recent conspiracy against law and
order RemMjcans aud Democrats alike rccog
nizc the necessity of having rebellion against
lawful authority suppressed and treason made
odious. In order to accomplish these ENDS Il
public Indignation meeting is TO be held. and
the best legal talent employed in taking meas
urts for securing the conviction OF all con-
cerned in an audacious conspiracy against non
est elections and i'm Il highhandcd revolt against
the Supreme Corrt
While this action of leading citizens is Il strik-
ing evidence of public virtue it is also mclan-
chcly commentary upon the low estimation III
which the ordinary agencies for the mamie
nance of authority and law are held. 1t ought
not TO be necessary for private citizens en-
crossed with the cares OF their business 'to
combine and organize for the purpose of bring
ing about the conviction of lawbrcakcrs and
rebels against public law. 1t would not he
necessary IL the Governor of this state and the
Sheriff and the DistrctAttorney of Kings
County had earned the confidence Of the pco-
pie 1t was the sworn duty of Governor Flower
last Monday. when he received information
that the authority Of the Supreme Court had
been defcd and set at naush' i'll Gravcsend,
10 take immediate measures for the rcstora-
ton of rightful government and the suppression
of mob law He declined TO intervene. and
brought contempt upon his high office by issu-
ing Il blIncOmbe proclamation and following II
up Oh the next day by puerile excuses for in
action. The Sheriff was equally supinc and
pusilanmous. He never raised hand for the
vindication of law in Gravesend. Even on
Election Day. when watchers armed with au-
thority from Justice Barnards court were
mobbed. murderously attacked and arrested.
he was limp and Indifferent to what was going
on As for the DiStrici-Atorncy. he had made
known his sympathies with Mechanics hcclcrs
by cynical comments upon the "e x-convicts,"
who had been sent to Raymond Street Jail on
Sunday by Police Justice Sutherland.
The authorities Of the State and county have
been condoning and sanctionns lawlessness in
Gravescnd for many months. There has been
prize fight after prize fight in open violation of
law, and McKane and his lawbreaker> have
profted by each and every one, enormous
crowds of sports and toughs being drawn
to these bestial exhibitions. Every fight was
fought to Il 6nis1 and under Justice Barrett's
famous decision was in violation of the stat
utes. The Sheriff. instead of preventing these
prize fights. patronZ Il them. took his chill
dren to sec them and publicly defended them
The Dlstrict-Attorney allowed the law TO be
violated with impunity 1t was only when pub
lie opinion was aroused by the preparations for
an international fight in December that the
Governor was induced to express his disap-
proval and that Mayor Boody was enabled after
comforting with Boss Mclaughlin TO announce
that the meeting of the bruisers would not take
place.
McKane and his accomplices have been
trained and educated In lawlessness until they
have come 10 believe that they can be Il law
unto themselves They considered it safe to
disregard the provisions Of public law respect
ing prize fights. Justice Barrett had inter
preted the law in the Supreme Court, but they
had their political pulls and were not mOlest
ed. Boss Mclaughlin and Sheriff Courtney
liked the sport " and considered it harmless
and the District-AttOrney was Il politician who
would not interfere with the recreatons Of the
" boys" The prize fights went on and the law
was not enforced. Gravesend WAS the only
town in the State where the law could be dciied
aud trodden undertook. When the elections APP
preached and the legality OF the registration
there was challenged. the lawbreakers took up
arms against the SupIemc Court. Nothing
could have been more natural How could they
be expected 10 respect the courts when they
had been lawbreakcys for years and had not
been called TO account for their offences?
The citizens Of Brooklyn have prOitcd by eX-
Derencc They know that if McKane. Newton
and their cOnfcdcrates are left 10 the mercies
of the Distrct-AttOrlcy, the Sheriff and the
Governor. nothing will be done. They are right
in assuming that no dependence can be- placed
force the law and TO punish the rebels and law
breakers Of Grayescnd Their public action in
organizing n movement for the prosecution Of
McKane and his men is IN Indictment Of Off
Gals who have been condOning criminal acts
and who have forfeited public confidence.
THEY NEEDED QUINCY-THEY DID.