New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-08

promised. Now 1t would seem that he
rode out with his jailor whenever he
asked, and on the last occasion did not re-
turn with him. II was just the way, we
believe, with Genet or Connolly, associ-
ates of Tweed, whom he will rejoin in
foreign countries. That Tweed had
the advice of most distinguished
lawyer in enabling him to retain
the millions which he had stolen,
is we'll known. That this or similar cum
ming was not wanting throughout, is rem
dered probable by the statement, that not
having been convicted, Tweed can not be
demanded in extradition. He held on to
his theft, and, convinced that he must dis
gorge, escaped from jail, under the escort
of his jailor, and, no doubt, with the ad-
vice of counsel learned in the law.
This game is now entirely transparent.
With Democratic Governor and Dem
ocratic mayor, Tweed might at any time
have been committed to such guardians
as to have secured his expiation of the
sentence. 1t is now plain that he could
slip his handouts whenever he chose, and
that he only wore them in complaisance
to his friends. While Governor Tilden
was prosecuting the canal ring ind boast
ing his services in the arrest Of Tweed
while Tammany Hall was defending itself
from the great theft of its chief sachem,
Tweed wore those handouts as gracefully
as gloves; when Tammany was running
its candidate for Speaker, Tweed re-
manned in quod. Immediately upon
the decision of the last party issue,
Tweed had rendered the last service
to his party by exhibiting himself as
specimen and spectacle of its severe
integrity. He then felt that something
was due to himself, and asking his jailor
to help him on with his big coat, order
a carriage and see him home to take leave
of his family on his way to Europe, they
departed from prison. 1t now appears
that preparations had been made to secure
his speedy escape by chartering vessel
and steam tug. 1t is probable, there
fore, he only awaited the result of certain
party action to consummate his purpose.
This is, perhaps, the greatest and most
successful official swindle since the days
of Warren Hastings. A Senator, intrusted
by his own procurement with the audit of
millions, steals incompatible wealth
for himself and his accomplices. He
is arrested and convicted at great cost.
His political party takes to itself great
renown for having conducted his trial. A
great campaign is conducted upon the
merit of this act. The party to which the
swindler belonged-or rather which be-
longed to this swindler-proclaimed its
own superior virtue during leading cam
paigns of Ohio and Pennsylvania. They
Congress, and then this great
thief, having done SO much for his party
in keeping his room for some months,
walked out of prison with the consent and
connivance of those assigned to guard him.
In the midst of the local contumely
which is thrown upon Republicans here,
the fact that this unexampled thief was,
as he proclaimed himself, Democratic
Statesman" is not published. We pre-
sumo these facts will not reach the knowl-
edge of anti-Republican readers, nor will
those to whom the American language is
unknown ever learn the achievements of
this burglar with the pen. Still it remains
history. Our anti-Republican contempt
raries here have made as yet no comment
upon this great service rendered to the
Democratic party by standing as sham
convict. One of our contemporaries takes
a light and festive view of the offense in
saying, "The old man played his double
skies well, and thus slurs over this mas
terly fraud as if it had been an exploit of
Matt Hogan.
The American people have their eye
upon the Democratic statesmen who pro-
TESS peculiar and exclusive honesty. Ex-
PEELED from Office for years past, they cite
this compulsory abstinence from wrong
as proof Of virtue, as if sinner con-
fined in the House of Correction should
walk forth with protestation of superior
virtue.
The example Of the Republican admin
istration, which has convicted its own ap-
pointments of public robbery, and COM
mitted them to an imprisonment from
which they can not escape without judi
cial warrant, will convince the American
people that the Republican party
is sincere in its punishment of
crime. The President has directed
investigation in all suspicious cases,
and will not prostitute his influence in
behalf of any guilty official. How differ
ent will be the record Of the Democratic
party, imprisoning q thief for political
effect and then letting him 60 at large to
appease the other thieves who had been
alarmed and exasperated by such abnor-
NAL and unexpected vigor. The imprison-
ment Of Tweed will not only have fur
nished his party with an invaluable cam
paign issue, but his escape, by convincing
Tammany that no serious punishment
was intended, may win back the conf
h. L. ~rk1