The sun., 1909-02-26
THE NEW YORK POLICEI
Praise for Men Who Are Accustomed
Only 70 Adverse Criticism.

To THE EDITOR OF TIE SUN-S6; In
this age OF abuse Of public officials II is GER
tainly both refreshing and encouraging 70
have fair minded man like Mr.. ]. Miller
say a good word In their defence. dare
say that there are many other men like Mr..
Miller who believe IN the integrity OF our
police force, but who have not the courage
! TO come out In a manly way and say so.
1t has become quite the fashion to abuse
public servants, especially the police
Every crook. every bilious crank. every
parlor politician and every Magistrate with
a desire to make grand stand play and TO
see his name In print has something to say
against our police.
think that every fair minded man will
admit that We have the finest and most
efficient police force in the world The
New York policeman has a snap and an air
OF business about him not seen In other
cities. He Is ever ready to respond to the
call OF duty, and in the performance OF that
duty he never hesitates to risk his life II
need be.
As an illustration let us take the police
man who boldly enters O dark room to oap-
ture an armed burglar or murderer, alert
and ready to use his weapon at moments
notice, or one ordered to disperse q gang
OF thugs or toughs on a street corner. or
one who enters burning building and
saves the life OF some unfortunate partially
suffocated by smoke. or one who plunges
into the icy current and rescues some would
be suicide from a watery grave. or one who
stops the runaway horse, or one OF the
traf1ic squad. who pilots people safely
across streets swarming with fast moving
vehicles of all descriptions How often we
hear of policemen losing their lives or being
manned for the remainder OF their days
in the performance Of their duties.
II any. one doubts the bravery and en-
cheney OF our policemen let him count the
service stripes or the silver or bronze stars
on the sleeves Of their uniform coats
know men on the force who have won hye
or more stars for bravery and the faithful
performance of their duties. These stripes
and stars are badges Of honor, They mean
as much to the policeman as Napoleon's
badge Of the Legion OF Honor meant 10 the
The average New York policeman has
the reputation OF being kind and gentle |
manly in his depOrt rnenl. Strangers visit |
ing this city seem TO understand this better |
than we do and seem to have a better aD- |
probation OF the policemah's many good
As ii is with the policeman II is with other
city officials, especially ir they happen TO be |,
Democrats. They all have TO come in for |
their share Of abuse.
Probably no city on the face Of the earth |
has been so persistently abused, misfepre- |
sented and lied about as the city OF New !
1Cfk OyproiesSlohhl reIormeIs, ulsgfuntieu
oniceseekers defeated candidates for office. |
choleric clergymen. and other irresponsible |
persons in general How often We read OF 1
clergymen OF the sensational type getting |
up in their pulpits and deliberately making |
false statements about our city and her |
officials, They never stop TO investigate
for themselves, but take their doctrines !
from some untrnthtul partisan newspapers.
Is this right; Is it la!r? is It the square
When we stop 10 turn the limelight on
those who are so probe TO malign New York
city what do we find; y mongrel crew OF
confidence men ard ofiiceseekers. the rank
tsnisTn imaginable these whited
sepulchres love to pose before the public
under the cloak Of reform aud deceive the
people into the absurd belief that they are
parties looking out for the
city's welfare. when ia reality they are red
hot after the Jobs. How they succeed in
Ioolng so many people. especially New
\ orkers. who aGe roted for their superior
auI at q loss to understand.
:, The deliberate Misrepresentation of New
fork city has been carried so far by mali
cous persons and an unpatriotc portion OF
our press that strangers very often come
here with feeling akin TO fear for their
personal safety. They expect to be held up,
gsrroted or robbed on our streets
IA recent speech IN defence Of our city
and its government the Rev. DR.. =. Parkes
cadplsn of Brooklyn. n learned divine.
loted for hi~ conservatism and fairness,
made a powerful plea for q little more civic
bride on the part Of our citizens, and depre-
'ated the tendency TO attack the town, It's
ways, its manners and It's officials. He said
hat the respect shown for women here was
me OF the browning glories OF New York,
md that he took pride in the fact that the
arrest woman was safer in the lowest
'e on the boulevsrds of Paris by dsy.
NFw YORK. February 25.