The sun., 1870-02-15
Mr.. Swecny's Absurd Assumption Of
nnueF.

Mr. PLrER BARR SwEENY undertakes to
control the Democracy Of the great State of
New York. The majority of the country
Democrats in the Legislature, fearing his
frowns, obey his commando Not 40 with
the city members Such men as Senators
GENET, NoR1oN, and CREAMER estimate
this ambitious man at his real value. A
politician who caunot carry his own ward in
New York city should not presume 10 die
tate to the fgh'ing chiefs Of the party. Mr.
SwEENY has no solid political foundation
Since 1863 not t. year has passed in which he
has not been defeated in his own ward, in
spite of his unscruvUlous use of money and
patronage. Wepresont the figures for the
information of those country Democrats,
some of whom seem TO regard Mr.. SwEENY
ns even greater than the late influential
DEAN RICHN..u.
Mr. SWEENY's first assumption Of political
power was in December, 1SG2. He had re
signed the Office Of District Attorney in polit
ical disgrace some three years before. Mean
while he had been concerned in street rail.
roads and other Jobs The Hon. MATHEW
+ BRENNAN was elected Comptroller Mr.
swEENY was very oalcous during the elec.
tion. He persuaded the credulous BRENNAN
That lie owed his office to his (SwEENy's) per-
sonal efforts. He then jumped upon Judge
BRESNAN's broad shoulders, and rode him
rcmorselcssly The spoils were rich, but
their division was "A repetition Of the story OF
- Al
tho turkey and BRENNAN got the crow In
other words, SwEESY got the profits, and
BRENNAN took the odimn.
Mr.. SwEESY then essayed the rte of Die
tator. He was thoroughly beaten In his
own ward in the very first contest. In the
fall of 1868 he undertook TO elect his uncle,
THOMAS J. BARR, Police Justice. The real
Democracy joined Issue with Tammany, and
nominated THOMAS A. LEDwITH, who, while
in the Legislature, had incurred Mr.
SwEENY's bitter enmity by voting against
the Broadway Railroad bill, his pet job.
LEDwrTH developed such strength that
SwELNY became alarmed. He would not
venture a Gght. He turned tail. lie with
drew BARR, and LLDwITu walked over the
course.
In 1864 Mr.. SwEESY was in high feather.
he Ind obtained such firm foothold In tho
Comptroilcr's office that he thought he could
force his uncle THOMAS into Congress-.
Tammany swallowed the uncle, but the
honest Democrats took up the brilliant
JAMES Brooks of the ErprGss. The follow.
Ing WAS the vote in tho Twentieth Ward:
Brooks. $3.50 UnclG Birr.......... 1894
Brooks's majority over Uncle Barr, 1865.
In 1865 Mr.. SwEESY made his fight on
etate Senator. Uncle BARR being in a
measure played out, the Hon. THOMAS G.
FIELDS bore Mr.. SwEENY's colors, and suf-
Tered severe punishment. The honest
Democrats nominated GEoRGR w. MCLEAN,
but TnoMAs MuRPHY, well.known and
very able Republican, slipped IN between
the two. The following was the yole in tho
Twentieth Ward:
@sLesh''''''.,.,,.. 2A3 Fields ..........,... qli7
AAl'SNoeny waJuIlty, IUs
IN NoVem'vr, 1866, Gen, CHARLES @. Hal,
PINE, better known az "Miles oRciny."
stripped himself for fight with SwEEyY
Gen. HALPISE was one Of Mr.. SwERNY'.
must formidable enemies. The origin Of this
en- atty was charge that swEENY had re