New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-15
<yOTYFR "STDDEN ILLNESS"

TIL. "scrlous illness" which attacks members
Of the police force In the quick sncc'SSloh J"
which they are summoned for trial upon charges
Of misconduct seems 10 have spread 10 Tue ~
torncys employed 10 defend them II has broken
ont at point rs far away ~ Lehox' MISS
In n letter dated NJ that aristocrauc summer
resort anu addressed 10 President Martlh' "i
the Board OF Police Commissioners '"l""''
George Bliss has made the announcement mat
he IS n sufferer from II. The Colonel Is couh@'l
tr c,n,oin Cross who il under charges nnd
awaiting trial He agreed To represent III" 'P-
tain on personal CONSIDERATIONS, ne say
though he had "pcrsistenuy refused 10 have an!
ching 70 do with tie existing police troubles
cas- counsel or otherwise" when In N"w-l "Th
"rcn DAYS ago" he writes, Il made some lille
"nrenaratIon. but II course could de- It'll. In The
condition IL the matter" On hls return 10
Iouox he saws u. was attacked with Il sudden
illness which called for eXhaustng remedies
He adds however. and the statement VIII DE-
read with satisfaction by his numerous friends:
II ain better aud up and about. bnt with h''l'
he,d or strength" The Colonies prOyrrbial
modcsty here appears. The length ana iuIh'>S
Of his letter indicate that what he says about
his having little head or strength Is Only
manifestation of MS hab'ua sclfdcpr"ciatloh.
He IS TO be congratulated upon the possession
Of n constitution that within ten days i able
TO stand ~ sudden Illness which called for eX'
hous,ing remedies" and recover from IT so far
AZ 10 be able 10 writ. Il business communication
which shows perfect command of his intellectual
powers
". regret 10 be compelled TO differ with the
Colonel upon one point which he touches casual
w. but with his usua grace. In requesting
{ q hfa oil ont
! Cross. he SAYS he does II BECAUSE See that In
"tbe carnestncss Of the press for sensations anu
"victims during fhe period Of midsummer idle
"ness every application for even fairness Is
created ~ a sham or confession Of guilt
In making this statement 1t seems 10 us mat
the Colonel INDUCES in cxaggcration. 1t may
be that this j. one Of the lingering effects OF his
sudden illness" perhaps Of the ''cxhausting
remedies" We do not think that the press. ~
a rule. even that portion Of It which habitually
INDUCES in sensations, has shown any DISPOSE
ton to treat the accused members OF the police
force with unfairncss The newspapers have
given II great deal Of space to the testimony
against the accused officials. and have assist
ed no doubt. IN bringing ont facts Of a very
damaging character But they were mostly
positive and indubitablc facts, and their pubca-
ton. however they affected the accused has
been Of great service in bringing corrupt oili-
Gals to the bar OF public justice. The citizens
and taxpayers Of Ncw-York owe debt Of graf
itudc 10 the newspapers for the fulness with
which they have exposed the corrupions and
crimes Of the Police Department. and the una
nimlty with which they have Insisted upon ex-
posure prosecution and punishment. With all
the shortcomings Of the press. Its "eagerncss for
\ md lin, N IN iust
hasty Judgments, there Is this TO be- said for 1t
IN the matter OF the police Investigations ana
trials that 1t has stood up uniiedly and deter
mnedly for the cause Of morality. honesty and
dccency II has been engaged In work OF
publication, for which all good citizens owe 1t
thanks. and It has made very few mistakes in
II so far
The sur upon the motives OF the press which
Colonel Bliss INDUCED IN under the influence
Of the "exhausting remedies" for his sudden Ill
ness was written. Of course. in his professional
capacity as an attorney. and not by any means
as n leader Of the party under whose auspices
the police investigation began and IL proceeding
As a Republican leader Of great prominence and
great activity the Colonel must look with up
pruyal upon the efforts ~ his party to expose
| the corrup, practices Of the Tammnny gang. whu
have so long controlled a departments Of The
| municipal government, aud In an especial man
ner prosiltucd the Police Department 10 the
basest Of for The pcrpetratlOn OF Their
| power And he cannot have forgotten that one
Of the causes for the forfeiture Of confidence
on the part Of former Republican leaders. among
| whom the COlOncls own name has been some
times mentioned was u universal suspicion that
while osicnsibly making war on the Tammany
| gang they were really In sympathy and col
fusion with them. We would not for n moment
intimate that the Coloncl's slur upon the activity
Of the press in tie police trials tinged with the
color Of insncerity his professions as Rcpub
lican advocate Of municipal reform. He Is, OF
course. acting In this matter simply as an at