The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-09-11
The True Position OF Tweed.

David Dudley Field Is afraid that II Il were moi
prohibited by the constitution there would be n
bill OF attainder against Tweed. Mr.. Fields ar.
gument Is That the public excitement ran 30 high
in New York after the discovery ~ the Tamma1v
frauds that bis client would not receive jnstics
Mr.. Field does not state the case properly. Tweed
was never In danger from any excess Of public
clamor. lie always had behind him n large marty
lie was elected 20 the State Senate after The ex.
posure Of bis crimes. He had money enough 10
engage eminent counsel-in addition 10 what he
paid to leecbes and b!acknailers. lie was power
fnl enough 10 defy Governor Dix and Mayor
HavemeyeI and render his imprisonment q nomL
raj one. lie has broken through the bars OF an
other. When one court did not suit him he went
10 another, sure nj lasi 10 ind some minion OF A
Judge who would obey him. When one intrepid
magistrate, three years ago, committed him with.
out bail TO answer for his crimes, be had another
around the corner 70 release him on nominal bail.
His progress through the courts has been q triumph.
lie has demonstrated the suggestive fact that for
stealers OF hams and gas pipe there are twenty
years imprisonment, while for the stealers OF mill
ions there Is only a nominal punishment
There was never any fear Of a "bill OF AT.
%tainder.p Public opinion has never been harsh
toward Tweed. lie would have had ample mercy
had be sought H. lie had millions Of the peoples
20 restore what he had stolen 20 establish a fair
claim 10 mercy. He was an old man and had
welded immense power. No one wished 20 be
cruel toward him. The iall Of one who had been
so high was IN Itself q punishment not 10 be lightly
considered. Instead D. Of restitution Tweed resolved
on defiance. The money he stole, through hia
Gagveys and Ingersolls, he intended 20 keep. He
has kept II, with the exception OF he hall million
paid 20 leeches, blaokmaiieTs aud lawyers. In
this defiance Of the law and OF public opinion he
Is fortunate enough 20 win the aid Of the highest
men IN tie land. The bill Of attalnder y n not
against Tweed, but against public justice.
This Is the painful aspect Of The Tweed case.
Here we have q confessed and convicted criminal
defying the law by the very assistance OF his
crime. lie robs the treasury aud uses the money
TO protect himself This IA the pass 10 which
justice has come in New York. The Tweed frauds
were possible under honest Administrations There
is no government 30 wise and prudent but II may
be robbed. But when the robbery Is discovered,
and the money Is found on the persons Of the
thieves, the natural course Of the law Is 20 put ID
Ia safe keeping. and In time restore 10 10 ifs
owners. IL is against reason chat the thieves should
be allowed to retain their stolen money, aud pay
il out TO lawyers and leeches and blackmailers 20
protect themselves. Once let that be an admitted
principle and all an expert gang Of burglars need
TO do Is 10 force the Sub-Treasury or the Safe
Deposit Company. and, spending a liberal share OF
the plumber for lawyers. take their chances with
the courts. This Is what Tweed has done and
what he Is doing now. lie de1es justice by the
aid Of the public money. His confederates do the
same thing. Who has seen n dollar OF the money
Of Garvey or Ingersoll? How much has Fielda
returnedi IL Is possible, as The law Is now admln.
istered, for men in power 10 take millions, and 20
Tweed case. IL is not " bills OF attainder y that
Tweed has 10 fear. lie Is the victor In the contest,
and IL looks as il he would leave the 6eld victor,
carrying with him every dollar OF his plumber,
except the half million paid for immunity.-N L
Herald