The New York herald., 1874-12-02
William M. Tweed.

To-day William M. Tweed will emerge from
his prison upon q writ of habeas corpus to
appear in court and appeal for his liberation.
It would be cruel to recall in detail the
offences for which Mr. Tweed was convicted,
or to contrast with the degradation Of his
fall the splendors Of his almost imperial
rule, nor do we wish to rake up the
past. But as he was exalted to an
eminence which perhaps no citizen of New
York had reached before him. SO he fell, not
like an ordinary man, but as one on whom
the whole world looked with wonder and re-
gret For four or five years the press of
America and England, and indeed of all
civilized nations, has been filed with
the muddy story of the Tammany Ring
Its glory has passed into eclipse be-
fore the eyes of all men, from the
wretched palace of the new Court House to
the more respectable wards of Blackwelrs
Island. Everywhere the American people
have been complimented for the way in which
they executed justice. The value of q repub-
lcan form of government has been de-
monstrated by the way we have punished
officers who betrayed their trust and
Of this impartial justice William M. Tweed
is the chief example. Yet to-day the press of
this country is silent; it is satisfied it does
not wish to pursue Mr. Tweed to his prison,
his family. But there is something far
higher than the sympathy of the public
| for an old man who has exchanged the
diamonds of Tammany for the striped uniform
Of convict. The reputation of the American
people is concerned in this matter. Con-
molly, Fields, Genet and others bowed their
heads to the dignity of the law and public
opinion by flying from their united
wrath. These men honored American
justice by evading it. But Tweed has
remained to defy it. Even yet, prob
ably, the credit Of his country is
not Indifferent to him; but ii is impossible for
us not to see that his present course en-
dangers our honor. With all the pity that
exists for Tweed it is certain that the people
feel that his liberation now, on any technical
point of law would be, in the opinion
of the civilized world, evidence that there
is no crime that the American ma
ton is not willing to condone. The ex-
ample of the overthrow of Tammany is moth
ing if Tammany at last can, by the aid of the
law, triumph over the broad, imperishable
principles of justice. We admit that
his friends may plausibly say that
he was the scapegoat OF the Ring,
and we regret that he should be
personally made to suffer not only for his own
principle is higher than the man. II Tweed
is to be set at liberty let it be the act of
mercy, for it cannot be that of justice. The
public can pardon this poor old man, but in
justice to itself it cannot formally vindicate
him by the act Of the law.
Gun NEW ORLEANS CoBREspoNDENT tele-
graphs us that he does not know whether
Kellogg will fight the new government that
comes with the New Year or not We do
not think 1t makes any essential difference
President Grant has had his fingers burned in
Louisiana, and even Presidents who have had
such experiences dread the fire.
THE CONGRESS which meets on Monday
could do worse things than appoint COM
mittee to examine into the circumstances at
tending the sale OF the Emma Mine, and
whether the credit of the American govern
ment was directly or indirectly used TO effect
that salA