Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-11-28
JUSTICE NOT DEAD.


When we heard Wednesday that the
jury in the case of the most gigantic and
notorious scoundrel this city ever pro-
duced, one who has not only robb d it Of
millions of dollars, but who ha, system
atically debaughed its polite, and its
our hearts sank within US, and we almost
despaired ofjustice. Money, we said, and
the cunning of lawyers who readily
lend their talents and ingenuity TO the de-
fence of roguery, can at any time carry
the day against evidence and against
truth. But when word came that the
Jury had found the big criminal guilty
on two hundred of the counts of the
Indictment, our hopes rose once more,
and~our conf lence in the popular adj
ministration of the courts was restored.
The conviction OF Tweed though long
delayed by the extraordinary subIlety and
energy Of the counsel who have lent him
their aid, and perhaps by well-fOunded
technical obstructions and difficulties,
will do more TO revive the languid moral
ity of the metropolis thNn any other event
that could have happen d. He WAS
not only the head of the conspi
rators that for years had b?cn cheotiDg
poor and rich alike out of their earnings,
but he was the representative Of that Pc
culiar school of political management
which has literally deluged US with all
kinds of corruption. He had his pur-
chased allies and dependents In every
public Office, as well as in every pot
house; and If our municipal affairs for
wears have been In the hands of prize
fighters, pimps, grogsellers and thieves,
IL was because OF the pecullir practices
devised by this monster OF wickedness.
For these offences, it is true, he was not
on trial but his conviction on the other
offences which could be properly brought
within the reach of the law will he an in
direct condemnation of them. His follw-
ers will be taught what he is In the eyes
ofan impartial Justice.
The punishment prescribed for his
crimes is totally inad, quate to mark the
degree of their enormity, and 1t should
be not simply confinement for halt-dOZ-
en- years or so, but for life; but, never
theless, it will have its moral effect. The
leViathan of the criminal classes, whO has
hitherto set all law at dtflance, and SO
far succeeded in his nefarious designs
as to get possession OF the machinery ofa
great party ar to introduce himself sud
his creatures Into legislative bodies,
where they pretended TO make laws, but
In reality only eOnspirCd to plunder, has
at last got the moose about his neck. lie
was brought to bay long since by the in
dignant uprising of the community;
when he was compelled TO fling up his
offices and to go into disgraceful retire
ment. But, In spite of the general
Odum which the disclosure of his crimes
produced, he has managed to brave the
courts and to escape juries. Unlike his
principal colleagues, who ran away, and
Ill tla ha ho ha1 hA Hoa ifu
10 appear in public, and even to use the
vast means which he clinRs to and refuses
to surrender 10 the rightful owners, In
securing his immunity from the penalties
OF the law. Forum ,tely he has failed,
and every lover Of his country, every one
anxious to see society advance In good
ways, every reformer of politics, will
r, ioioe that the reform begun so sponta-
neously aud earnestly two years ago by
the pC ople, is not to be without its final
fruit.-N L. Iest.