518 State Papers and Addresses

time has the leak finally undone the object of the work. Many a criminal has
left the trial court after a miscarriage of justice as a result of too much talk on
the part of those who otherwise sincerely worked to accomplish justice.

The rule of cooperation and silence may at times be discouraging to the
individual. In the long run, however, it will prove to be the right rule, even
from the standpoint of personal pride and credit. An occasional "beat" may
produce encouraging headlines in the local press for the individual officer who
directly or indirectly furnishes the information which produces the "beat, " but
such efforts will so interfere with justice and disorganize the Department in
charge, that the final result will ordinarily be failure so far as even personal
credit is concerned.

If however, by cooperation, skilled work and silence, the Department of
which the individual as a member builds up a credit which is a source of uni-
versal pride, then the member will find reasonably ample compensation in being
able to say or have it known that he is a part of such Department. So it will
follow that, in the particular branch of public service in which you gentlemen
are engaged in your various communities, the individual who as an individual
deserves praise, will not always get public credit; except as a member of the
Department—the credit of which he has helped to build.

I said before, and it is worth repeating, that a nation's place in civilization
can best be judged by the laws it makes and enforces. By that token the at-
titude of the public is a direct reflection of the way in which a police force
carries out its duty.

I think it is highly significant, and the greatest of compliments, that the
American public has made heroes of its national police. Nowhere in this land
but the G-Man is a name of pride and a byword for bravery and efficiency.,

This is no accident. This sort of reputation only belongs to those who have
earned it. In assuming your new duties you will undertake a large obligation.
You have inherited a reputation that is yours to maintain, and to glorify. And
all the more so when you consider the happy contrast between the police in this
Country and in certain others. You will not be asked to snatch honest men
from their beds at night and fling them into confinement where they languish
without hope of rescue or trial. You are not spies but keepers-of-the-peace;
you are not feared and hated by your own people, but you bask in the admira-
tion and approval of all honorable Americans.

Accordingly, men, I congratulate you on your attainment. But with this
added power goes additional responsibility which devolves upon you. It would
seem quite unnecessary to charge you with your abstract responsibilities. As
heroes, you will behave like heroes; as holders of the People's faith, you will
deserve that faith. You are soldiers of justice and watchmen of freedom. Into
your keeping goes the opportunity for honest men to live the American way.
Your performance is constantly on view—not only before your Countrymen, but
before the whole civilized world.

May you continue to represent all that is worthwhile in American life. May
you continue to demonstrate that the American system of government is capable
of meeting any challenge from within as well as from without. In striving to
uphold democratic institutions and well-ordered government, you will be repay-