The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-05
TWEED'S ULTIMATUM.
The Ex-Boss on His Political Position-A Des-
perate and Determined Attempt to Escape an
Interviswer-He is in the Hands Of
His Lawyers and Don't Care About
Politics any More-He Wants
To Be Left ALONE.

Mr. Tweed was yesterday in his Duane street
office. looking as bright as beamng and as bucohc
as in the best days OF his BOss-shp. reporter OF
the HERALD called upon him shortly after noon
and was received with the courtesy and freedom
of s'the good old time" when Tammany was king.
Mr.. Tweed sustains his lifelong reputation OF not
"going back" ON his friends the portraits of gen
temen adorn the walls of the office, although tho
originals thereof are wandering In foreign lands
under compulsory absence from the city
Though the sun OF the "Americus Club" has been
almost totally eclipsed, the ferociOus tigers head,
familiar to all the "Merry-cusses, showed its
teeth and its open mouth just over Mr.. Tweeds
head, as he stood at his desk tying up . package
OF deeds. Wherever the eye rested there were me-
MORALS OF the vanquished politicians and emOlems
OF the dethr0ned municipal rulers.
mr. Tweed" said the reporter, Il have called
TO have talk with you, If you viii allow me-"
II am very glad to see you," said Mr.. Tweed,
''but talk to you win not.n
~ have never misrepresented you, Mr.. Tweed,
and have always tried to deal fairly with you when
Ihave put you before the public"
ayes, you have admit all that: but language
is wonderful thing, and you gentlemen who deal
in 1t know how to use it, and when 1t Is printed it
looks very different to when 1t is spoken l done
care about being ridiculed any more. I have had
about as much OF that as care about. I'm not
going to give anybody the chance Of doing it
again."
~ have never ridiculed you, Mr.. Tweed, and am
quite sure the HERALD does not desire to do SO.
My object in calling upon you this morning was to
ask you about the SenatOrship."
"You know the old proverb, The least said tha
soonest mended and Pm going to act on 1t. and
you're not going to get anything out OF me-"
''My instructions are to ask you, Mr.. Tweed, very
politely and without any motive Of idle curiosity,
know, from past experience that you win forgive
the apparent impertinence in your appreciation of
the side fidelity to these et insructio .gH;;
you newspaper men are, and II were tree from
the instructions OF my counsel might talk to you;
have" ' 80 "''' 80 ''N
. 81 thoroughly appreciate your position. Mr..
tentiOn OF asking you anything with regard to 10.
My inquiries ifyOu will permit me to pursue them.
are entirely OF a political and not of q personal
tend under the changed circumstances, which I
will not attempt to indicate, to take your seat In
elected9''
"Well, you'r perhaps scarcely believe it, but I
assure you it is So don't know what the political
constitution OF the Legislature really la. Ihave had
plenty else to do without bOthering myself think
ing about that; and 1t is not very likely shall do
tnat.u 'A"A "A'' -''-'''0 0'ne ~ 'e'ef'N0' ~
THAT is just the answer should have expected
you to make, Mr. Tweed; but it was incumbent
upon me to put the question"
"YOu know that have been the pack-h0rse Of
politics Tor many years. have got nothing for all
my hard work but abuse, and Pm tired OfHt I
don't care who's in politics and who's out I
know Pm not in, and that's enough for me-"
"That's so, MIR. Tweed, and have not the
slightest doubt that you will have far more enjoy
ment in your private life than you have ever had az
servant OF the people,"
Eyes, can AFFORD to do without that kind Of
thing. Pm In position to enjoy myself in my own
way and Pm going to do itn
"ln this wonderful change that has come over
the body polite, this tidal wave,' to use CAM
pagn phrase. It'll only natural that ON the eve Of
me meeting OF the Legislature we should think
that you might have something to say about it.n
Mr.. Tweed took up piece of RED tape, played
with 1t in his old way, familiar to those who knew
him when he was in his pamy days, and, with q
merry twinkle IN his eye, said :-"They can do az
they - please about 1t. l don't expect they'u
ask me about what they're going to do. l shall
mind my own business; that's enough for me.
can live In New York. and man like me, who is III
the hands OF lawyers, can't do better than keep
still, especially when talking will do no gOOd.U
"Mr. Tweed, Pm quite sure your silence win
commend itself to every thoughtful person. Allow
me to say good day, sir, and to wish you very
"GOod day, sir; I'm sorry can't say more, but
you see how 1t is yourself. shall be always glad
to see you, but don't talk politics. That's played
out.n
Mr.. Tweed's messenger entered with the card OF
VISITOR and the reporter opened the door marked
exit and lett the Office OF the ex-BOss rejecting
upon the mutations OF politics and the vanity OF
human greatness.