Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-09-08
Rogues in Trouble.

The first practical movement in the war upon
the thieves Of the New York ring was made yes
to-day, and was unexpectedly successful. Mr..
Foley, the secretary of the committee of seven
", appointed at the Cooper Union meeting, APP
piled in the supreme court before Judge Bar
nard, for an injunction to restrain the mayor,
controller and others from paying out any
money for the expenses of the city and county,
except out of the balance left of the state APP
preparations after paying the state taxes and
the principal and interest of the debt due during
theyear. Judge Barnard, without hesitation,
made the order asked for. This deseriion of
their most trusted judicial ally must
be acutely felt by Hall and his con-
federates 1t seems TO mean that no
man, who is not irrevocably COM
mitted to their support can afford to be-
friend them longer. Judge Barnard could if
anybody. He had not much character to lose;
his office is safe for some time yet, and his rela-
lions with the ring have been understood TO be
so intimate and he is supposed to have done so
much of the dirtiest of their work, that it might
be thought they would be dangerous enemies to
him, even after their power to plumber the pub
lie was gone. Judge Barnard may have thought
this his opportunity to cut loose from the ring
and regain a respectable standing among honest
men. AT any rate he has done what was asked
in the interest OF honesty and good government
and the best judge could do no more.
This is a rather melancholy time for the ring
magnates. While their rascalities were ex-
posed in the newspapers only, they apparently
dp5 ,ra1I in oil, d
courage. Through their spokesman, the mayor,
they could affect to DEFY the public with the
knocking retort, "What are you going to do
about it and the assurance that this would
all blow over in few weeks. But instead Of
blowing over, the clouds have gathered thicker
and faster until even the mayor must be con-
WINGED that tremendous storm is gathering.
The enemies Of the ring have, for the present,
abandoned their quarrels among themselves,
and if it is true that "when rogues fall out
honest men come by their own" it is equally
true that when honest men combine, rogues are
in danger. Not few of those who have shared
the power and plumber Of the ring have turned
against them, and arc edifying the public with
interesting narratives of the way in which
they manage elections and steal the public
money. Tweed, Hail, Connolly and Sweeny
may as well get together their traps and pre-.
pare to move out of the comfortable and profit.
able positions they have held so long. This is
depressing work, for some of them are ambitious
and all are greedy. To be sure, they have their
splendid houses and "palatial" stables, theil
yachts, their horses and their diamonds; but
some people are threatening that the law will
despoil them of all these, in order to refund
small part of the plumber they have stolen from
the people, and some are so unfeeling as to him
at handouts and halters. Such threats might
be lightly regarded so long as their friends on
the bench stood by them; but when Judge Bar
nard gives them up, they have reason for alarm
The succeeding steps in this business will be
watched with interest and hope throughout the
country.