Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-11-24
TWEED.

whose conviction and sentence gave
rise to so little sympathy, or to so uni
versa' public rejoicing as that Of Boss
Tweed. Every one was surprised to
hear OF. his conviction, for It IA gen.
orally believed that his great wealth
would secure him Immunity from out
ragged law ; and when convicted many
feared that his counsel might procure a
stay Of proceedings and save him the
ignominy Of sentence and imprison-
ment. But, happily for the cause Of
justice. not to say decency, no Judge
could be found to Interfere, and on
Saturday last the r~edoubtable Boss"
stood up In Court, and after listening
to a most scathing review OF his crimes
by tue Judge. was sentenced to twelve
years imprisonment In the County
Jail, and in addition ordered to pay a
fine OF $l3.750. The fine Is a mere
bagatelle. but the imprisonment, AYE,
there's the rub" It 10 to be regretted
that, owing to the peculiar nature Of
Tweed's offense and the statutes OF
New York relating thereto, the County
Jail Is to be his home instead OF Au.
burn or Sing Sing. The old reprobate
ought to be put at hard labor, have his
hair cut, and wear striped pants and
jacket. However, we must be con-
tent, and even with this light punish
ment for so grave IN offense as rob
bling the public treasury for a series Of
years, and Of millions OF money, the
people have cause for graduation.
The sentence Of Tweed proves two
things very clearly. First, that twelve
honest men were In the jury box, and
did their duty ; and. second, that ener-
getic efforts In favor Of honest admins
tration will sooner or later succeed.
As has been we'll remarked, the arrest,
trial and conviction Of Boss Tweed,
was not In any sense a partisan victo-
~. 1t was a union OF the better ele-
ments In New York City to ferret out
and punish the robbers who, for years,
had full control Of the city government
and had systematically plundered Its
treasury. Tho New York Times first
started the Investigation. which re-
suited in the conviction Of n Of the
swindlers. It was at once ably second
ed by O'Conor and Tilden, Democrat.
The Committee Of Seventy was formed
composed Of both Republicans and
Democrats, a vigorous investigation
was had. indictments were found
against Tweed, Ingersol, Gsrvey aud
Others and one Of the scoundrels has
been convicted.
or course there will be energetic eff
forts OIL the part Of rweed's counsel to
procure a new trial, or In some man
ner to defeat the ends Of Justice. IL Is
not at all Impossible that these efforts
may be successful, and at last that
Tweed may 60 free. But at present
he Is safely housed In the County jail.
For this result all lovers Of good gov
eminent have cause to rejoice. The
disgrace Of a felon, convicted. SEN
fenced and incarcerated, has attached
itself to the most notorious corrup-
zionist and public robber Of modern
times. Twenty trials hereafter and
twenty verdicts Of not guilty. II such
were possible, could not efface the
disgrace Of his present situation. The
result Of this trial Is encouraging to
friends Of reform. 1t will stimulate
similar Investigations and prosecutions
elsewhere ; 1t will deter others will
ling to Initiate Tweed's example from
following out their instincts and long
ings, and will result In giving a health
Ter roneto public administration. Not
only New York City and State, but the
country everywhere have reason to be
elated at the happy result of this no.
table trial.