The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-11-21
L" WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO
ABOUT ITl.

On summer morning in 1871, an article
appeared in the New York Times, charging
the most stupendous frauds in the manage
ment-perhaps "mismanagcment' wcreth
better word-of the affairs of the city and
county of New York. Four men were dis
tlnctly charged as the ring-leaders and
principals in these frauds-Tweed, Con-
molly. Hall and Sweeney. The article was
read and freely commented upon. 1t was
believed by some; by othersit was received
with incrcdulity and doubt here it was
treated contcmptuously, and there passed
by as merely sensational. The first charge
was followed up, quick and fast, by other
and hotter shot, supported by document
airy proof, until the careful attention of the
public was drawn thereto, and incredulity
and doubt began to give way before CON
vction. Then the accused attempted to
venture a defense, promised a publication
If their accounts and vouchers, whereby ii
should appear, beyond Cayil, that they had
administered the affairs of the public justly,
and had come out with clean hands. The
publication was not made 1t was never
made, because it could not be made. Still
these and other charges, sustained by the
evidence were continually poured in, until
the people were aroused and, even, the
ring" was startled out Of its serenity. Sc
cure they felt, however; and why should
not that have been their feeling Defiant
they were too, and well might Mayor Hall
ask "who is to sue?" and the others taunt-
ingly inquire "what are you going to do
about IT, The board of aldermen were
allies of the ring for long time, as Mr..
'rilden said 'therc was no grand jury
" which had not been packed :" the local
authorities, alone possessing the power of
commencing civil suits, were of the four
or in completely with them; the officers,
whose duty it would be to prosecute, were
their appointecs the judges were their
tools and jurors were selected as they die
tated
Two years and four months only have
elapsed, and what change. The ring
swept from power, and honest men rule in
their stead. The corrupt judges have been
impeached and removed, and Judges of
learning and integrity hold the scales of
justice equally poised. The idle, the vi
cous and the ignorant no longer serve in
the jury box, but men of intelligence, bust
ness men and men of character pass upon
questions of fact. The prosecuting officer
looks to the law and evidence of their du-
ty, and not to the question of the length of
the criminals purse or how many votes he
can control. The consnmmaton of the
good work was almost reached, Wcdnes-
day, by the conviction of the arch con.
spirator, William NJ. Tweed, on an indict.
mcnt, charging some two hundred differ.
ent acts of misfeasance or malteasance in
Office The sentence has not yet beer
passed. for even so great criminal, as W,
all know Tweed to be, is entitled to the
same rights as is every other citizen. Tho
case has been patiently, carefully tried
with seeming honest endeavor on tn part
of Judge Davis, who presided at the trial
and Mr.. Phelps and Tremain who con-
Quoted the prosecution, that there should
be no mistakes made, so as to render new
trial necessary. The right of exception
and, perhaps, of appeal remain to Tweed
but we trust they will avail him nothing
Having discovered "who is to sue" the
other question of ''what are you going to
''do about it," must trouble these men, to-
day. If no error has been committed, ant
Mr.. Tremain's view of the law is correct
the punishment to be awarded Tweed vii
be from fifty to two hundred years impris
onment and a fine of somewhere between
twelve and fifty thousand dollars. We
doubt not the lesser number of years o
Imprisonment will be satisfactory, as, il
any event, Tweed will go to his last earth
~ home. Was eyer such downfall wit
messed in so short space of time? Th,
whole country is to be congratulated upon
the result, as it shows that Justice cannot
always be purchased and that the Liberties
of the people are safe with the people.