Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-15
THE TAMMANY PLAN OF ESCAPE

THE T4MNANY PLAN OF ESCAPE
The New York Independent joins the lead
ing papers of the city in denouncing the rob-
berries of the Tammany ring. In its last is
sue we find the following editorial:
The Tammany thieves, driven like foxes to
covert, are trying to escape by strategy. Our
distant readers may not understand the case.
Let us therefore relate it.
For years past knot of democratic poll
ticians called the Tammany Ring have been
ruling, and at the same time running, this
city. They have fraudulently carried cleo
tions, they have shamelessly purchased courts,
they have vilainously robbed the treasury.
Honest citizens have all along felt in their
bones, or by the pricking of their thumbs,
that this gigantic roguery was daily going
on, but did not know exactly now to prove
it, or drag it to light.
At last the Times burst upon the knaves
with proof af their knavery-taking the city
by surprise, and filling the land with wonder.
That journal got hold of the figures of one
great job-namely, the County Court House.
This is a new and unfinished building in the
City HALL Park, which has cost for its erec-
ton nobody knows how much, but which,
though not yet finished, has cost alone for its
repairs (heaven save the mark y including
plastering, plumbing, gas fixtures, carpenter
work, and carpets, a sum footing up to the
Persian magnifcence of six millions of dol
lars! There is no lodging these figures. The
Times copied them from the official records
of the Controllers office, and stands ready
to go into court to make oath to their &C.
curacy. The footings shows at a glance
that the city has been horribly swindled. The
rascality has no parallel for magnitude OIL
shamelessness, save in the fictions of the
Arabian Nights.
Quailing under the unexpected exposure o
their villany, the Mayer and the Controller
who are Jointly responsible for the thefts
made sudden, rash, and fatal promise to lay
all the rest of the figures before the people
This promise, made weeks ago, has not we
been fulflled-and this too, notwithstandin.
the law makes imperative publication of the
accounts.
Meanwhile, to gain time and draw off thu
lightning, the Mayor and the Controlle
| unite in a card submitting their case to an as
ISOLATION of private individuals, known rs tn,
| New York Chamber of Commerce, asking
this body to appoint committee to examine
the books and to report what they find.
This proposition is exquisitely 'schild-like
and bland" Would the public like to know
what it means? 1t means, in the first place
that the Mayor, being on partial trial for hi
good name, has the audacity to select his owl
| jury-which is in itself suspicion equal tt
confession. 1t means, in the second place, tina
the Chamber of Commerce, even if it accepts
| the invitation to examine the books, will have
no power to compel answers or to punish per
jury, and cannot possibly bring to light wha
the Mayor wants to conceal. 1t means, in tn,
third place, and this is its chief meaning, tina
the Chamber of Commerce is full of members
whom the Tammany Ring can control, ant
whom it can procure to varnish the Control
lers accounts.
We make this charge unqualifedy and une
quivocally.
The Chamber of Commerce is barrel o
meal with cat in it. 1t is an automaton witt
a manipulation behind the wires. 1t is a tri
bunal which, unbeknown to itself, is confident
ly relied upon to render snap-judgment il
behalf of the rogues.