New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-25
THE POLTCR md TIE INVESTIGATIONS.

When Superintendent ByrncS found himself
reported in al the papers on Sunday morning
~ saving that Ill is getting 80 that p"hc'lhah
IL afraid Of arrcsiing anybody he recognized
The necessity OF removing AT once the impression
which thai report had created. Accordingly ne
haSlcnoI 10 deny in yesterdays papers thAt ne
had made such Il statement adding that THE
..poc, force is ready now rs II always mas
.'brrn 10 defend the lives and property "t the
..,itiZcus Of New York" But though the words
attributed to the Superintendent contained con
sidcrtblv more meaning than he was Wiling 10
acknowledge rs belonging To what h" really Sald
an SATURDAY. and he therefore felt constrained
+, disayow them they doubtless did express a
certain measure of truth. II is fact thar an
outhrc,l, Of turbulent conduct aud violent acts
is AT present alarming the public and di>q'i'''-
jng the authorities As The superintendent was
reported rs saying. the police are apparently
getting dcmoraliacd 70 that extent We sustain
the assertion which Mr. ByrncS rcpudiaic>.
But il would be unjust Ia accept all the pos
sihlc deductions from that premise 1t is quite
natural that thc police force. after the reveal
lions of the last SIN months. which have de-
stroyed the reputation OF somc Of its members.
attached strong suspicion To many more. pra'-
10 exact cash tribute from innocent and guilty
alike. produced "A general conviction mat Inc
politcal organization which has ruled the city
is about 10 he ovcrlhrown, and encouraged the
hope that individuals from whom III" rank and
file have directly or indirectly taken their orders
will be in iail before long 1t is quite natural,
We say that The police force should he den"ral-
zed at this stage in its history 1t is traDsi-
ton period. which perhaps necessarily Tends 10
relaxation Of discipline Moreover. using The
word decentralization in broader sense. We
have no doubt that the raScals on the polio"
force are IN a state ~ mind which in great
measure units them for the performance ~
those duties which they have heretofore dis
charged with general efficiency.
But II. rs it seems necessary 10 believe. IN"
disordcrly and violent elements In the com
mnnity have gained some ENCOURAGEMENT AMI
relative strength from The present condition Of
affairs In the Polio" Department. II docs not
follow rs the Superintendent WIS understood
10 imply In the statement which h" has rcpudi-
atc,l that The Senate Investigation j doing more
harm than good. TN the contrary. II proves
conclusivcy the imperative necessity Of inst
such an exploration ~ The sources from which
the decentralization has proceeded. There is no
sense nor safety in conccang dis"aS" lest IN"
process of curing II should produce temporary
distress and disgust The final and not remote
consequences Of this exposure Will b" of meal
culablc value. Moreover. we have no idea either
that any honest policeman j. afraid 10 do his
duty. or ihat honest policemen are small mi
norty of the force. We have always believed.
and repeatedly said much. that the depart
Incni discreditcd ~ an official organization,
contains "A large number Of faithful. ncorruptlblc
men who have had no part In the transactions
which have been brought TO light. and who con
tnur 10 discharge their obligations with clear
conscicnccs They doubtless deeply feel the dis
grace which does not touch them personally. ana
they have an even stronger interest than any
other part Of the community in complete
revelation Of all the facts and rehabilitation
of the force Tho investigation does them no in
Justice and there is no reason 10 stop IL on
their account The rest Of the people need and
demand TO have il continue until the whole truth
is known
In the mean time we are glad 10 believe that
Superintendent Byrncs does not mean To- tolcr
ate the excuse for delinquency which some otii
cials and all rascals would like TO have the
public accept a. valid.