The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-07-06

Oh Tue city haVe been exposed md the police
force has been charged with ineniclency.
They have been the centre of severe crti-
cism even from members OF their own
churches, but as far as we have inyesti-
gated the matter. they are making good
their charges. Some of these criticisms
have been unkInd In the extreme and
show that many people, as well as the
press of our city, are inclined to side with
vice rather than with him who attacks It,
These brethren have been charged with
attacking the fair fame of our city In or
der to attract attention to themselves They
have been accused OF being weaklngs,
Initiating Parkhurst, and have been In
formed that there Is only one Parkhurst
and that there is but one New York.
These are criticisms unworthy any
thoughtful citizen. Suppose the example
OF that great man. DR.. Parkhurst, has been
felt in this community. 1t has only taught
us that the city is not owned by the police
force, and If they will not enforce the
laws then they shall be made to do it,
That they are seeking popularity by their
course is too absurd to need reply. Such
work does not bring popularity. The work
done has been heroic, and has cost them
the good opinion of many who should re-
ward them more highly because they have
bhu al COuIdEt 10 dSalSL III lnahlHB our
city fit place in which to live.
We are sorry to say that as far as we
can Judge the police force of the city are
the most adverse to the work thus being
inaugurated. When the cases of the wo-
men who kept the "speak-easies' were be-
ing tried, 1t was clear by the remarks
heard from the police in uniform as well
as those in citizens clothes. and by their
manner, that their sympathy was with the
women and not with those who had
brought them to Justice. When the detec-
tiyes took the stand In the first case very
unfavorable comments were made by po-
licemen present. This is not 1t should
be, and Of itself shows that work along the
line now being prosecuted should be done.
On Thursday morning the ministers who
were asked to come to the police court to
give the movement their moral support.
were not allowed to enter the court room
from the rear as they had been permitted
! on Tuesday morning. When we were de-
MED almittance on the plea that the court
was crowded, within plain view there was
one seat vacant. The turnkey informed us
that the captain had ordered him not to
admit us, and said. II must do my duty"
| When we went to the front door to enter
| the door was closed and would not be
| opened.
Now the police are making mistake in
| all these matters Their constant criti
cism OF these men who are doing work that
/ they could not or would not 40 is in bad
taste, From all remarks we heard from
| the officers about the court and from their
| manners we learned that these ministers
were in very bad repute among the police.
We repeat, the police commissioners and
| al nj ne he nd
| file Of the force are very unwse in their
| conduct 1t leads all right thinking men
| to the inevitable conclusion that there is
something they desire to cover. II the
| police force is doing its honest duty and
| trying to suppress vice, then investigation
| is not to be feared If our police cannot
stop vice in public places, if they cannot
close places where our young men and
women are invited to courses of life worse
than death, then they ought to welcome all
| who will assist in the work committed 10
| them, but which they do not perform.
| The proceedings of the Police Court last
week certainly reflects greatly on the eff
cheney of our police. That two Methodist
| preachers who have been but little over
year in the city, and who have no ex
| perience in detective work. should bring TO
| justice large number Of women whose
| profession is to destroy all that is good in
| lives, and show by incontroyertabe evil
dence that they were keeping speak
| castles" where any man might get intoXl-
cants. and that the police should declare
that they knew nothing of these places,
should make the officers of the law blush
| for shame. They are either incompetent or
| willfuly neglectful 1t is time the citi-
gems were taking the matter in hand when
| M trug unIipp TbapPpg
are not made against individual officers as
yet but the whole system for guarding our
| city from evil Is on trial. 1t is time some
good men were leading in this crusade
| against public vice about which our officers
| are not informed. 1t is time to compel
| them to learn a little faster and be a little
braver in enforcing the law against all
evil doers.
We should esteem the work of the minis
| ters very highly They have done bravely
| 1t has not been pleasant work, nor work
that most of us coyet, but it was needful
| and sentiment has been widely stirred.
| Now let the work be continued. Let the
prominent citizens of Wilmington join to
see what can be done for the publication
Of our city. Let us give the police such a
moral support, and moral push If they
need 1t, that they shall find out these
| places OF lHluully anu GuHlpei luclu 10
close Will any one answer why these
women who were tried last week, even If
they had not sold intoxicants without Ii
cense, are permitted to carry on In the
known view OF the city and the whole
police force. places of infamy that it is al
most a shame to mention.
Shame on the daily papers that should
be ON the right side of all moral questions.
and that should commend every man en-
gagged In the work of eleyating the moral
tone OF the city, for their words of crit-
cism of these men who have made this at
tack on evil. Instead of joining In the
crusade against wrong, some Of our papers
have held these ministers up to ridicule.
But the time will soon pass. We must have
pure city, and the paper that places itself
on the evil side must receive the seyerest
condemnation of all good citizens.
The question is, what next?
One gratifying feature of this work is
that on the bench of the police court we
have fearless and righteous judge Judge
Ball showed in all the cases already tried
that he could be depended on to push vice
| whenever proper evidence was furnished
against Its promoters.
| Fell Down SInirs.
Sylvester D. Beerbrower.57 years OF age.
fell down flight OF stairs at his home at
Eighth and Pine streets at 12 o'clock yes-
terdhy breaking q blood vessel. causing
concusslon OF the brain which resulted In
his death four hours sfterward.
Mr.. Beerbrower had suffered from rheu-
matism for long time but until few
| years ago was able to attend TO HE busi.
ness. While descending the stairs hi 8
foot caught In piece OF loose carpet and
he fell neadlong a distance OF twelve feet
striking his head on a door. Dire. Smith
Cooper and Joseph p, Pyle could but re.
| lleye his suffering and at o'clock death