Illinois, U.S.A.
31 October 1888
New York, Oct. 25.
A London special to The World says:
"I saw last night the proofs of General Sir Charles Warren's article on the London police, which will appear in a magazine here on Saturday. It is intended as a defense of his incompetency and of his failure to catch the Whitechapel murderer. General Warren insinuates that London is practically under mob rule, and that Mr. Gladstone encouraged it. These are his words: 'It is to be deplored that the successive governments have not had the courage to make a stand against the more noisy section, and have given way before the tumultuous proceedings which have exercized terrorism over peaceful and law abiding citizens, and it still more to be regretted that certain ex-cabinet ministers, while in opposition, have not hesitated to embarrass those in power by smiling on the insurgent mob. There can be very little doubt that the outcry against the police as a military force, instigated for politic or sinister purposes, is due to the Englishman who poses as the censor of public bodies and who possesses, as a rule, but one idea at a time.' This refers unequivocally to Mr. Gladstone, and will create great indignation among his followers, when the article is made public.
The article generally is a weakening on General Warren's part, and he now even asserts that the police force might be reduced if all London would resolve itself into a vigilance committee. Yet it stands as a matter of record that the Whitechapel vigilance committed has received almost no recognition from General Warren. Sir Charles also accuses the reporters who have done more to solve the mystery of the crime than any one else, with hampering his work.
Sir Charles Warren makes comparisons of London with the French and Continental police, but utterly ignores Superintendent Murray's splendid force, as he is very sore about the New York criticisms on him, which have been reprinted here.