Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-11-13

There are those who still cling to the
old belief that murder will out In vain
has it been argued that the number OF ID
stances where murder dIdn t out is more
nearly sufficient to constitute the rule
han as exceptions to prove that tie
C Intrary Is the rule. However, those
with old fashioned ideas about retribution
will find gratifying example in the ex-
posure of Byrnes, ex-superintendcnt OF
the New York police force. OF course it
IL possible that the gambling house keeper
who testified Monday, that when Byrnes
was police captain he paid him quarter
OF his gambling house profits, may have
perjured himself for the sake Of revenge
but as he testified with great reluctance
and IN straightfor ward manner, and the
circumstances support his testimony, IT Is
pretty safe to conclude that the ex-super-
intcndent of the New York police was
tarred with the same stick as were the
great majority Of members of the police
iolSo. Ibto tluCicbty 10
tendent and the fact that the Lexow com
mittee could not trace blackmail directly
to him enabled him to hold his head high,
Notwithstanding 1t seemed impossible
that a chief so thoroughly cognizant
of the police and criminal doings in that
city and who had amassed a good for
tune, should be able to show hands clean
of the smirch of blackmail. There were
many who refused to believe him guilty
and some were inclined to praise him for
having withstood temptation amid the
general orgies of corruption. Mr.. Byrnes
is now In Europe, and probably this trip
abroad will be the severest penalty he
will have to pay, save what comes from
the sense that he has lost the respect of
honest men. This loss may or may not
affect him. We think it will. Byrnes is
an able man and achieved what would
seem to be impossible for person without
some self respect and sense of duty. One
cannot avoid consideration of the cir
cumstances which surrounded him.
When majority of the voters of New
York City call back, so far as they are
able, ring that has plundered them, en-
deavor to reinstate the very men who
blackmailed them and disgraced the CITY;
when they declare to the world that they
10 til H.,
honestly, what is one to expect Of their
public oflicialsp A man who wishes to
retain his self respect cannot do justice to
himself and accept office under such con-
ditious. We would not argue that a man
must be corrupt because his surroundings
are, or that the corruption which seems
to have the encouragement OF New York
is to be regarded as wholly re
sponsible for the corruption of any public
official He is free moral agent as be
fore, but the chances of his falling from
the level of respectable citizenship are
many, too many for most honest mon to
take. In order to retain his position, in
order to receive the appreciation of the
voters of the oity, he must connive at
crime, he must indirectly participate in
crime though he does not share in the
proceeds. There are comparatively few
men who finding their hands stained with
crime in helping others to illgottcn
wealth, will refrain from going just one
step farther and sharing In that emolu-
ment New York City has given notice
to the world that honest men should not
apply for places of responsibility in its
government.