The New York herald., 1873-12-22
POLITICS AND MORALS IN NEW YORK
From the SATURDAY Review, Dee. 81

excitement arising out OF the capture OF the Vir-
ginius have, even in New York, diverted public
attention from the results OF two trials which
nevertheless possess political Importance. The
murderer or the notorious Fisk has at last, on
conviction for murder in the third degree, been
sentenced to Imprisonment for four years. The
man Stokes was originally an associate OF Fisk,
whom, on the ground Of private quarrel, he de-
hberately and publicly assassnaied in New York.
The verdict OF the jury, while 1t was entirely in
consistent with the evidence. nevertheless indi-
Gated a perverted moral Judgment Ihey nalf |
consciously assumed that the issue before them |
involved not only the act OF Stokes but the char
acter OF mis- victim. In wen governed
community rascals are not allowed 10 take
the law into their own hands by putting
one another. however deservedly, 10 death. In
the particular case Stokes killed Fisk not because
Fisk was swndnng reprobate, but because ne
was the successful rival OF Stokes for the favor OF
q mistress worthy Of both. The jury apparently
thought that no later opportunity would occur for
the utterance moral censure on one OF the most
abandoned of mankind. partial condonation OF
the guilt OF his murderer seemed to be the only
| practical method OF expressing the opinion that
| Fisk, with all his wealth and popularity. was
\ nevertheless social outlaw. The conviction OF
/ Tweed and the severe sentence OF imprisonment
| for u years win be regarded by the Respectable
| citizens of New York with more unqualined satis-
iaction Itremains TO be seen whether the party
the state win have the power or inclination 10 re-
leve the popular demagogue from the
merted consequences OF his guilt Even II tle
| Governor should yield to the representations
which he win certainly have TO encounter, the
honest part OF the community Will be reassured by
the knowledge that the Court and Jury have done
their duty. When the constitution OF the state
was lately remodeed the vicious practice OF elect
ing judges by popular Suffrage was unfortunately
retained; but perhaps the members OF the Jud,clai
bench may at present feel that they are on their
| tria that esDecially pound TO enace
| by their conduct the memory OF recent 5cand ndals
| A former prosecution OF Tweed failed through the
success OF sheriff. who was satellite OF the pris-
oner, in packing the jury panel. On the recent
occasion 1t would appear tnat enectual precau.
fraud, The apooglsts of American institutions
are eatitied 70 take credit for the ultimate retrl,
| button which has fallen on the perpetrator OF
crimes which were at the same time outrageous
| and characteristic. -
by an extreme case the moral and political conse-
quences OF universal suffrage. HIS respectable
| countrymen may lalrly boast that the democratic
system which rendered his frauds possible has
finally provided The means or redress and punish
naes ea who connlyed At Tweeds vilanes when they
, were only suspected and approved OF them wnen
they were fully exposed Uness @ s Sfnaa ta4n Gy
. ture, Tweed Is still Senator OF New YORK. HIS
last reelection Immediately followed the discovery
, ! that he had embeZzled Tor himself and others
i enormous sums belonging to the city, dozen
years ago Tweed became bankrupt as smau
shopkeeper In New York; and SINCE that time
he has never been known 70 pursue any
, lawful occupation by which he could have
: accumulated competence Having failed In retail
trade, he took TO polltcs, and more immediately
Z to the municipal business OF the city. having
! made himself popular with the rabDle, and espe-
ciaiy with. the Irish voters, ne became Alder
man OF the city and senator oil the STATE, and ne
at the same time became cons picuons for the lavish
sprendor Of his establishment and for MS proiuse
{ benefactions to his humber supporters. AIS ad-
mirers b0astfnly pointed TO TWeeds staoes as ex-
| ceedlng in magninceDce the mansions OF many
wealthy citizens, and the impuuence WIN whlcn
4 he displayed MS I-gotten wealth. increased the
xusvh urhia
: | clients. 1t is, perhaps, redeeming feature IN
Tweed's maepractices that he can scarceiy be said
! to have committed breach Of trust. Sympathetic
: Colleagues and applaudine followers were per-
4 fectly aware that the colossal fortune which ex
rised rved from punder Of pubic funds: but the
needy multitude felt no compunction for the
Sspt both regarded the extorton Of tribute
as an inevitable necessity, and cultivated feeling
! n umpnant n and genial demagogue the most rapa
! cious OF peculators was from policy and perhaps
from inclination open-naadea 70 & sag poOaiI an.
theorists, is incapable OF oppression or injustice
= valued Tweed as the conduit-pipe through whicf
neighbors AS the constituency was the sole source
not only OF political influence but ofjudicial power
Tweed with q Just prescience raised some OF his
| most unscrupulous accomplices TO the judicial
) bench. The names Of Barnard and Cardozo wl
r long be remembered as patrons of the criminal
/ class and as Invaluable confederates OF more am.
!, During the reign OF Tweed the city OF New York
was practically an Irish Republic, administered on
the principles which might be expected to prevail
: ii-iighted and insufnciently protected BY the
police, at cost as far as could be ascertaned o
s Snd
c OF similar station, with sprinking OF prize
lighters, and the more respectanle dem0crstie ,e
: ally themselves for political purposes with Tweed
i and his associates. The rngIesder himself never
| reserved for some more presentable member OF The
) party not directly implicated in pecnniary fraud
q most at discretion to shares In the vast sums
h | which they administered. The particular frauds
casual specimens OF their ordinary practice; yet
even II the rest OF their career had been perfectly
> mately % Convicted would remain without a prece
% dent In magnitude and audacity. "A New Yort
Journal which has since rewarded Itself for Its patr
4 otic energy by discountenanctng all inquiry 1ntt
g the Irregularities OF republican omcials
commenced three years ago an active Ia
!, Hali which had been erected under th'
e superintendent OF the city gang 1t was showr
q absurd and impossible demands on condition o
e dividing the proceeds with Tweed and their othe
r paymasters. According TO the oricial statements
u the County Hall had been plastered at q cost 0
r. half million sterling and it had been provided
with sumpsuous carpets which & would have serve,
It the doors were bare, or IN parts covered Will
cheap substitutes for the carpets, Of which par
had been supplied, not to the County Hail. but to
y new hotel which Tweed had established. Tn
+ Mayor and the Comptroller had been more or les
prlVy I'd the ITduus, tue WAS Hot sup
e posed have shared In the profits OF the transac
Is tion. The detailed exposure OF the monstrou
o. rObberies OF the dominant faction provoked an In
e. dignation which had been dormant when 1t wa
a but generally known that Tweed and his com
" | panions were living in spendor on the publ
punder. The excitement was increased by IN
a prospect or q political reaction against the demo
"a | Gratis, who had long controlled the city and tn
State; but In the drst instance the better class
r citizens exerted themselves to abate the scanda
~ without regard to party At the next election tn
m majority or the delinquents were driven frot
m once though Tweed was elected a Senator by
er constituency which adopted all hts acts with fu
K knowledge OF the circumstances. After time th
h Judges who the notorious creatures OF Twee
on and OF Fisk were forced out OF office; and one
& them had the grace to pass and execute judgmen
n on himself py committing suicide The C0mmitte
OF Citizens has since pursued with c0mmendabl
nrmness OF purpose the prosecution OF Tweet