New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-12-25
4 wholesome lessou.

The fate of the ring thieves In New York
ought to be a lesson TO evil doors every.
where. A few years ago these thieves, rich
wlth piunder, protected by powerful party.
laughed at public sentiment aud defed the
arm oi Justice. The overthrow of the Demo-
cratic party was the death kuell Of their
corrupt power. The people had become
aroused at the enormjty Of their crimes. and
were determined to bring them to punish
ment. The task was a hard one. A cor
rupt Judiciary stood in the way. To institute
reforms in the administration Of Justice was
slow work, but 1t was prosecuted with a
iideiity which reflects the highest honor on
The able representative Of public virtue who
undertook the task. Under the lash Of
public indignation and legislative investiga-
tion, the defenders of the ring, the corrupt
judges who had stolen themselves for money.
were driven from the bench, and men of
integrity were called to fill their places
The reformation of the judiciary was the
triumph of virtue over vice, the victory of
the honest taxpayers over the thieves who
Tor years had been plundering them in the
name OF the law, From that moment the
ring saw the handwriting on the wall, their
influence was broken; their hearts sank
within them, and alarm seized the boldcst of
The gang. Some stood to face the charges in
The vain hope that money, SO powerful as
defense IN the past, would shield them in the
future. Others fed under the cover of
night, and, under assumed names. are now
llVing IN foreign ands-fugitives from Justice.
III required time, patience, aud wonderful
perseverance to bring about this grand re-
form; but the result justifies the means, and
shows that after all, in the very stronghold
OF vice, public virtue, if once aroused to ac-
ton, has the power to compel obedience to
her commands. Tweed sent TO the peni-
tcniary for twelve years. Ingersoll sent to
the state prison for five years, and Earring
ton for eighteen months" take but little
space in the court reports, but they speak
volumes TO the American people of the dawn
OF a new era in which official stealing will
find no protection in the courts ofthe land. We
hail the dawn Of this period with satisfaction,
for it assures US that the people have an eye
to their own interests, and that the same
rules of morality which govern in private life
are to he applied hereafter to tlIoscwho hold
public positions. Let the fate Of the ring in
New York be warning to all who seek
money through dishonest means !: let it i'm
press upon the young and the ambitious the
absolute necessity of dealing honestly with
all men, and practcing in everyday life that
golden 'Do unto others as We would that
others should do unto YOU" Wealth may be
attractive and worth striving for, but, if got at
the expense Of honor, its possession will
bring no enjoyment, but like the wealth Of
Tweed, prove a curse to the pOssessor. Far
better the lot of the honest laborcr, who en-
joys the fruits Of his toll, than the lot of the
rich thief who continually fears the hand Of
justice. Better be a poor man, eating the
bread of honest industry, than millionaire
on Blackwell's Islaad.-The Repubic,