New-York tribune., 1894-06-11
DTTY AND 4 PRIVILEGE.

Tho torror and wrath with which the police
Investigation is filling numerous bcnciiciareS
~ thc Tammanv system of government can
oosilv he imagined They not only see stfaiSht
limos of evidence leading directly toward them
selves. but they perceive that they are on the
verge Of losing the filthy profits of blackmaiI
For lhc exposure Of their degradation they may
cara little but they are tortured by the eXpecta-
tIop NJ jmpoyerlshment With such AZ these
there is no occasion to plead on any terms or
for any nurnosc. II summoned to the witness
stand they will reluctantly appear. PROVIDED
thev cannot conveniently disappear; and when
they are there they will tell the tru'h ON! !"
ease il Is dragged ont of them
But there are hundreds, probably thousands
- mon directly concerned in this investigation
who have no such cause for apprehension or
motive for perjury. They are the hon's'-m'hd'd
members If the police force who desire to earn
their moderate salaries by faithful servic" and
NOT = cent corr,ptly; who. If they have been III
vuvcd az all In The aboInlnaUc 'r'hNaclonH
navy being laid bare have had no partnership III
The worst infamics: who have perhaps y"iu'u
ga far ns to obcv shameful orders under II mis-
taken sense Of obligation; who doubtless nave
in worry many eases. accepting the system as
they found II. paid fDr appointment or SupSr
ou.ntiy for promotions 10 which th'lr recoruS
entitled them. but who In foriclting 10 some
extent their sclf.rcsprc'. have prcSrrVed ih'lr
preference for that straightforward course "i
action which they have not been p'ilt" nDie 10
keep Such men aS these are not Denchcarl'S
but victims Of Tamm1ny government lh'N
not only share the suspicion aud thr odlum' pu'
help 10 pay the toll They gain absolutely noun
Ing from The operation OF the system t" when
by their silence they consent, nnd th'y los'
much They lose the certainty OF reward Tor
proved fidelity aud efficiency. They So" offers
grow rich while they remain poor; 'h'y see 'ha'
cao,r complicltv in crimes by which individuals
prosper and The organization Is iatt'h'h ~
nassporr to favor and prcfcrmcni while to be
suspected Of honest contempt for corrupt pr'c
ticcs is to be- heavily handicapped.
To such members of the police force Dr fArh-
hurst made IN earnest appeal Just before his
departure. In juSiic" 10 themselves ana 10 ne
community by which they are employed ana
which would rejoice 10 have them establish
new claim 10 liS confidence. they cannot AMOR"
10 reject that appeal II fear Of the conSc-
ouencrs has hitherto Kept them Silent. thn'
excuse f. 10 longer valid. In the present lem
per 81 the people Of Newlork we do not ne
lirvr that his sup"rprS W"ulh dar" !" "''Hi 1"
policeman who had told the truth 10 the com
mi,frr. II : the duty Of the Police Board 10
encourage such testimony by public guarantee
80 immunity: bur II that obligation Il ignored
n Will nevertheless r"na incumbent on honest
-uh1rlinai,s - co.Op"rai' In the work 0f rX
posnr,. and reform. They should realize that
they have no, only u duty discharge. but a
privilege 10 accept the privilege Of acIuittins
their cnu~clcnccs and laying down heavy
burdru.