New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-28
As no "TNFOR MERS.'

The theory of Fire Commissioner La Grange
concerning the cause Of John McCabe's suicide
that "he was a man who had Irish blood in his
"veins: he would not be an informcr and there
fore he is dcad"-may or may not be correct.
From all that has been thus far learned, the dead
mans secret has been buried with him. Precise
" what motive impelled the suicidal hand will
probablv never be known 1t is possible that the
Imagined disgrace 10 which he thought himself
exposed so worked upon his mind That from the
very terror of 1t in moneniary madness he He'd
forever. The theory suggests serious reflections.
Not the merely SENTIMENTAL or even the moral
or religious reflections which commonly arise out
Of such an event: but the much more serious ones
relating TO the bearing which such views OF life
and duty as the theory prcsupposes have upon
the whole community and the general welfare.
on several occasions during The last year. and
especially during the progress Of the inveStiga-
ton of Tie abuses in the Police Department.,
cases have arisen in which, from notions which
seem 10 MS to be utterly fallacous and false con
corning the disgrace of appearing as an Inform
or" men have not merely refused 10 testify con
corning matters that profoundly affected the
safety and well being Of the community, but have
s0uarrly and deliberately pcriurcd themselves.
And II must be said too. that among certain
classes in the communiy-n 10y any means the
criminal classes either but men Of decent lives
and outward responsibility such conduct mas
been not merely excused but applaudcd Ana
it has been the fashion TO say that this distorted
notion of personal honor in its relation TO moral
sense and civic duty is peculiar 10 men OF irish
blood and extraction, and grows ont OF their IN
born dctestaton Of the trcachcrOus ana mali
cious mschIcfworkers and spies for whom IN
their native land there Is no worse name than
'nfOrmcr"
We refuse to give currency or credcnce TO This
libel upon a nationality and race 10 which this
country is indebted FOR so much that Is honor
able. pure and patriotic in the story OF lis de-
vclopmcnt and progress. The question OF com
mon honesty. Of moral sense. Of fidelity To the
obligations ~ citizenship. does not relate 10 race
or nationality and Is not determined thereby.
The man who has knowledge whether guilty or
innocent. ~ crimes contemplated or consum-
mated. against honest administration and good
government. against law ana morality and the
public welfare. has no excuse for its conceal
ment none for evasion or pr"varcaiion, ana
none least Of all, for perjurng himself, In avoid
ancc Of The flncicl disgrace Of being considered
by criminals and public enemies as an Inform
er" II nav be generally stated ~ political
axiom that The man whose notions of personal
honor are So confused aud misleading that he
considers II a greater disgrace 10 bctray public
enemies than 10 be- filS. 10 his civic oath ana be-
tray the public Itself is unfit for the franchise
and unworthy the confidence or respect of his
fcllow-rnsn That man II wretchedly unfortu-
nate who nv MS own yotion or by any accident
~ circumstance comes into the knowledge OF con
duct on The part ~ his associates Involving Grim
lnal acts At that point he may be pltcd for MS
misfortune But beyond that II. having that
knowledge. he undertakes 20 set up rs n point OF
personal honor his miserable cowardice In fear
ins The taunts Of men whose good opinion Is not
worth having and whose reprohation Is badge
Of responsibility. he ceases TO deserve anything
bur cens,Irc and condemnation from all decent
citizens The protest Is worse than frivolous or
patry: II il dishonest and scandalous. And To
pretend 10 lay II 10 strain Of blood or n ma
tlona popularity is a sn"aking attempt TO unload
Individual dishonor upon whole nation
The sooner this miserable dclisiOn that any
man can set up his own notion OF what he calls
his personal honor against truth and law. com
mon honesty and common d"cency and the gen
era good is dispcllcd and eliminated The better
for everybody.