New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-25
TIE CONDEMNATION JUST

Some persons are complaining that they are
treated harshly and unjusy in the sweeping
condemnation which an aroused public con-
science and profound sense of horror and indlS-
nation are visiting upon everybody connected
with or responsible for the system OF corruption
and crime whose centre is in East Fourteenth
ST while its tcntacles clutch every business in
tercst. every social and domestic relation, every
brick and having stone from the Bronx TO the
Battery They say they are included III ms
condemnation when they have done nothing 10
deserve 1t: that though they have been connect
ed with the Tammany organization, ana nave
perhaps held office under its auspices and by
its favor they are personally innocent of wrong
doing and ought not to be subject 10 the undis
eliminating censure so universally INDUCED H.
Among those who complain of injustice in this
regard are the patrolmen of the police force
who say it is not fair to condemn the whole
force because the LeXow Committee have dis
covered a system of corruption, bribery, black
mail and completely with crime which in
wolves the heads Of the department, nearly all
the subordinate officials and a large number OF
roundsmen and patrolmen 1t does seem hard
il must be admitted that the honest and hard
working members Of the force. who are innocent
exposed. should be made to share in the dis
grace They deserve sympathy. But II must be
remembered that the sweeping condemnation
in which they are perhaps unJuslly included Is
due to the fact tina, during the Lexow invcsti-
cation the policemen who have been put upon
the stand have committed such open and I'M
blushing perjury in defence Of themselves and
the system. and have shown such audaciy and
sumed that the entire department WAS rotten
from top 10 bottom.
As to others in higher official positions who
assert their personal honesty and their freedom
from responsibility for the crimes of the Tam
many organization, it may be said that they do
not deserve sympathy and are not entitled 10
exemption from public condemnation. 1he same
NAV be said also Of all who. with even so much
knowledge as the public had OF Taminany prac-
tees before the Lexow exposures. winked at
them and from either personal or partisan mo
tives tacitly encouraged them. All these sinncd
wilfully and deliberately against morality and
decency: against the public welfare and against
themselves. They have no one TO blame but
themselves IL they find themselves included In
the wave Of popular Indignation against the
leaders whom they have blindly followed and
the organization Whose WlCh'u pun poS'S INV
have promoted 1t is but hmsy excuse that
as individuals they were pOwerless 10 purify
corrupt politics, initiate reforms or correct
abuses That is the evasion OF downright cow
ardce And IN the for good government
and honest administration, which Is always on,
always agrant and always must be, it should
be borne In mind that cowardice is accounted
the same as In armed warfare-no less criminal
than desertion or treason. In actual armed CON
ficts indeed the skulking coward merits and
receives the added punishment Of lasting dis
grace TO the ordinary penalty Of his crime. In
the onward march Of the cause of political mo-
rality and honest government no time can be
wasted in sympathy with the wcaklings who
fall before it, protesting that though their asso-
Citations are bad they are themselves pure.
In the present condition Of the public mind
and God send that It may long cndure-thcre
Is no disposition either to compromise with the
inveterate foes OF good government or deal
lenienty with the easy going and limberbacked
people who while corruption and crime were
rampant saw no harm in profting by condi-
tons which they now say they did not actively
promote or personally approve. The destruction
Of the Tammany system, which has been or
dered by an overwhelming popular vote must
include the entire outfit active and passive, and
there can be no exceptions. The mandate.
"Tammany must be destroyed" is plain and
clear There may be cases Of individual hard
ship in carrying IT out, but only so can justice
be done and the general good promoted.