New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-07
POLICE SPIES; AND OTHERS.

Swing Is a vile business. OF that there can
be no question. That is, provided we mean spy
ing in the extreme sense Of the term. 1t then
comprehends false lmpersonatIon, lying, incte
ment to crime and betrayal. Such are the prac
tices Of the agents provocateurs' OF Russia
than whom no one Is to be regarled with greater
detestation. The man who assumes disguise
tells falsehoods about his Identity, insinuates
himself into the confidence of others pledges his
faith to them, learns their secrets tempts them
10 evil and aids them In doing 1t, and then be-
travs them into the hands OF the law, makes
himself an object If contempt and hatred. Even
those who employ him despsc him and distrust
him. In warfare the spy does not become an
.agcnt provocateur" yet he Is, when captured,
nut TO an SYNONYMOUS death. In civil oifalrs MS
testimony Is regarded with suspicion ana De-
lieved only wheu well corrOborated. Perhaps
his work is sometimes necessary. lf so. IL Is
necessary evil Perhaps It sometimes results IN
good II so. It Is doing evil that good may
come: which is a principle not greatly In FAVOR
In this land and age
There are however spies and spies. Much
that is sometimes called spying is not only legii
mate but honorable and praisewor'hy. Inc
citizen who sees evil being done. though not 10
him or his, and gives the authorities Information
Of the fact Is doing a manly duty. If he fail
10 give such information. he Is guilty or negie't
Of duty and breach Of good citizenship He Is en-
titled not merely 10 do this when he happens 10
see crime done, but to watch for wrongdolng
wherever and whenever he has cause to suspect
# IL afoot Neither Is he under compulsion TO give
warning Of the fact that he intends TO denounce
the crimes he secs It IL to be supposed that he
will do So 1t is for the doer If the deed to run
the risk and to bear the penalty OF It's publlca'
ton. Tie man who thus brings criminals TO
book may be called a spy. He Is not one In any
offensive sense. He Is rather sentinel, wa'ch'
man, guardian Of peace and order.
Such work may be done by policemen as well
as by any one else. policeman IL citizen,
and has all citizens rights and duties. II Is
lust as much crime 10 break law In the pres
encc Of a plain citizen as in the presence Of a
policeman In full uniform. II IL no possible ex-
cusc for the lawbrenlcr TO say he did not know
an officer II the law was present Surely, then,
II Is entirely proper for Il policeman to lay aside
NJ times the insignia Of his office TO resume the
parb Of nm ordinary citizen and to do the work
which any ordinary citizen may do and on OPP
portunIty should do. To call n policeman thus
engaged a spy IL, III III" lHSliiilh'loH ihh"'' u
gross iniustlce There Is no element OF deceit
or treason In his conduct. He is simply doing
a legitimate work without such ostentatious and
uncalled-for advertising OF the fact as might II
INDUCED in, render the doing Of the work I'M
possible.
II such a system were not practiscd. our whole
detective force would have to be disbanded ana
half the administration Of justice would be
swept away Mt stroke. Suppose every police
detective, on the track II a murderer or bank
robbcr. were to go IN full uniform, with gilt
tcring badge proclaimIng his errand. how many
would be successful In the quest: How many
criminals would be captured? What judge In
his senses would refuse to accept testimony
against murderer simply because It was offered
nv a policeman who had gained his information
while I'm citizens dress? To discredit the testl-
monv of policeman In such circumstances, ana
70 bclieye him when he tells what he saw while
In uniform. would certainly be an amazing per
for,nonce Let us dscredt the treacherous in
former" all we please. We probably cannot get
boyond his desert. But TO the honest sentinel
Whatever garb he wears. we must give the credit
that is n faithful guardians due NO odum
rests upon him. No dstrust should be felt for
his testimony. Whether he bear witness against
n murderer or a thief or a breaker OF the excise
law. or any other criminal, he Is competent wilt
ness and his work is just as honorable as that
Of the Judge upon the bench.