New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-11-23
The weakness Of Crime.


Three times in recent years we have seen the
great truth exempifed that nothing which is
founded on fraud and violence is really strong.
Its strength is merely apparent, and although
1t may stand for time as if il were impregna-
BILE to all the attacks of truth and justice, it
only requires steady hammering to bring it
down. For years after the campaign OF slavery
began, there seemed something almost Quixotic
in the endeavors and hopes of the men who were
assailing this gigantic evil. The Tribune, with
that faith in the ultimate triumph OF right, and
chat Discrimination to consider the strength OF
an adversary as any reason for declining fight,
which have marked all its history, never fal
tered in its implicable opposition to this lnso-
lent, and, as it appeared, invincible power. 1t
seemed to be growing stronger and more secure
every hour. 1t made the Northern born Presi-
dent its tool. II steadily increased and con-
6rmed its force in the Senate. 1t forced SER
vile Congress to extend its sway all over the
North 1t dragged its victims back to their
torture from under the shadow of Faneuil
Hall. 1t finally seized the Supreme Court and
cast over the mind and conscience of the people
the horrible incarnation of pretended legality,
which if accepted would have chilled the last
impulse of revolt against this internal domina-
ton. But in spite of what seemed impossible
odds, the anti-slavery party kept up the fight,
making no terms or compromises with the ac-
cursed thing. This steady resistance drove
the South into the madness and folly OF rebel
lion, and the greatest war of modern history
was the final solution of the conflict The
power which had seemed omhipotent destroyed
its possessors, and in 1865 it had ceased to
exist. 1t seems difficult to comprehend to-day
that it ever swayed the destinies of the nation.
Another wrong, which met with strange
and monstrous success through term Of years,
but against which we always bore unceasing
testimony, was the Second Empire In France.
Louis Bonap~rte throttled the Republic and
imprisoned Its representatives, unquestioned
by the world and condoned by the people of
France. His stolen power seemed positively
growing stronger hour by hour. He was taken
into good company. The kings and queens
born IN the purple gave him their hands and
called him Monsieur mon .frere The cockney
tourists wrote loyal rhapsodes about him
American responsibility performed its degrad-
ing kootoo on the parquet of the Taileries.
Sometimes the Emperor amused himself by the
farce OF plebiscitum, and was tickled by the
manufactured response Of unanimity. He
called the world about him to admire that hol-
low and superficial show of material prosperity
which prevailed in France in 1867, and not a
sovereign that year entered the gates of Paris
who seemed so strong and so secure as he. But
even then his state was honeycombed His
throne was worm eaten. TO save the prestige
he saw fatally slipping away, he began mad
mans war, and the Empire which he had taken
twenty years to build crumbled to dust in
month
few months ago the despotism of Tam
many Hall seemed sss imgregnable. Cynical
observers said it could not be overthrow, for
IL was founded on the rock of vice and igno-
rance. 1t began from sources so low and vul- |
gar that its first encroachments were regarded |
with contempt. Il increased gradually, max |
ing sure OF every inch it gained extending its |
heaping up its resources, banding |
together Its hirelings by the chains of avarice |
and fear. Its first successes were won with |
loa'ers and criminals. In its later exploits it |
used in its coarse work legislators and men
called statesmen. 1t hung its brazen badges
on the ermine of the judiciary. 1t controlled |
every utterance of the great and defiant party
1t had shackled and muzzled. Even the ablest |
journal Of that connection, which had for one
moment boldly denounced it, said not long
ago, with shameless pride i'm its own degra.
dation, Tammany does know how to carry
elections" Robbng the Treasury with one
hand it stuffed the ballot boxes with the other,
and year after year, with too vulgar and inso-
lent a scorn OF decency to attempt conceal
ment OF its crimes, it Haunted the results of
them In the eyes of the world. Its dishonest
splendor poisoned the moral atmosphere.
All there was of latent crime in the breasts
Oh wavering youth was warmed into life
oy this -gaudy parade of successful viii
alny. LIS. chief thieves, at last sim
;erely despising the town which allowed
them such impunity, began to think well of
themselves. They became charitable and pub
llcsplrited. When they stole million they
would give few thousand to the poor They
encouraged art and science 10 their ignorant
and clumsy way, and men of taste and culture
were hopeless enough to accept their largess
for these objects. The head thief of the gang
began to think of a statue and On the list of
to raise it there were the names
oil several men claiming to be gentlemen
Good people grew superstitious about it, and
regarding it as an invincible and memorable
fact, began to consider whether it might not be
best to accept it and make the best Off
But there never was Ring of thieves which
could endure. 1t is silly proverb which as
cribes honor to such. The press kept ham,
mering on for years without effect other than
that of seeming to weld this Ring of base metal
more firmly together. But at last the hammer
struck the weak place, where the avarice of
one rogue touched the avarice Of the others,
and the Ring was broken, and the strongest
and foulest despotism Of our times came down
in crumbling ruin at the first determined as
sault Of the honest citizens. The lesson is
worth all ~ has cost. No matter how big and
strong and insolent a lie and fraud may be,
It will surely give way sooner or latter il hon
sstiy and persistenly attacked.--Ne,o York
Tribune.