New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-20
TIE TWEED VERDICT.

The most righteous and important verdict
ever given by an American jury was rendered
Yesterday morning in the Court OF Oyer and
Terminer It's momentOus Importance and in
calcuabe advantage are shown by two 1acts
ALI decent people desired it, thought it the
only Just verdict possible, and none expected
it. Never has the Jury system been exposed
to so severe test, and the triumphant issue
of the experiment is one which will serve for
years to come as powerful argument III favor
of its retention. 1t would be hard to imagine
case which would offer more dangerous
strain upon the weakest points of the system
of trial by jury. The accused had enjoyed
| vast personal popularity among the classes
who most readily serve upon Junes. IL
would only be natural that among the
numerous panels exhausted before jury was
obtained, there should be found some per-
sons who had proited by his lavish profigacy
or who sympathized with that open handed
rascality which he at one time made the
fashion in New-YOrk. He had still, through
himself and his family, command of great
wealth, which of course he would have no
hesitation in using to the utmost to save him
self from felOn's punishment. He was de-
Tended with all the zeal and skill and tenacity
which money can secure. The popular fervor
of indignation which was aroused by the dis
covery of his crimes, and which eliminated
in his political ruin had somewhat abated by
the lapse of time, and matters of more imme
date though less momentous concern were
occupying the public mind. But in spite of
all these considerations, the case was con-
Quoted with CELEBRITY and impartial fairness
and after few days trial the jury found a
verdict which does them the highest honor
and rebukes the slender faith of their fellow
citizens.
This verdict is nothing less than iustifca-
ton of democratic government. Rings and
combinations for plumber exist and have
always existed in every form of civil society.
But nowhere has there ever been an effort of
the body of citizens for reform so general so
well organized, so moderate, and yet 30 per-
sistent in its operations as that which the
press and the people of New-York carried on
for three years and more against the cabal
known as the "1ammany Ring" of which the
fitting crown was the verdict OF yesterday.
Without any disposition to indulge in any
national clarifying over the event, we still
may say it would not have been possible any
where else. The prosecutions of ROupell and
Miras bear no comparison with this. IL the
people of Paris had by legal and regular
means condemned the Due de Morny to the
galleys for his reaching schemes of plum
der, it would have afforded some analogy.
There has never been the slightest hint OF
lawlessness towards Tweed. His life and
property have always been as safe as those OF
any other citizen. The uprising against him
has been that of the people of good will, who
are as slow to give up as they are slow to
undertake an enterprise demanded only by
public morals and the public welfare.
When it began it seemed well nigh impossi-
bic, There was an open, goOd-natured, shame
less scoundrelism about Tweed and his fol-
lowers which seemed almost impregnable to
attack. If he had been hypOcrite he might
have been easily defeated by being unmasked.
But he was so strong in his control of the
machinery of elections, the machinery of the
Courts. and the vast ramifcations OF all the
interests and ambitions attached to New-YOrk
political life, that for while every disclosure
seemed to increase his popularity and power.
The stories of his wealth, his colossal thefts.
his reckless bribery, made him hero among
all the idle and the vicious They sought to
come nearer to this source of unlimited cor
ruption. They adopted his air OF moral swag-
ger. They said, like him. to all who accused
the Ring of dishonesty, "What are you going
"tO do about itT This attitude OF cynical
defiance had its effect for while. The
Americas Club was never more gaudily bril-
liant than during the first year of this cam
paign. There was talk of statue to "the
"Boss," and considerable subscription was
made. The vulgar smartness with which he