New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-30


Representatives and the pamphlet entitled Z" The Weed
and the Jimmy" written and published by John l.
Davenport in the Fan of 1901 The exposures made in
the Of this investigation resulted in the passage
OF acts of Congress amending the Naturalization Laws,
adding provision against fraud and q provision on
behalf the United states for supervision Of Che election
ofMembers OF Congress. These laws were effective and
efficient for the purpose
REPUBLICANS RESPONSIBLE FOR TwEED'S RING.
ii. In the Spring OF 1870 there a fierce conflict
wagod for The control OF the City Government The
State Senate Republican by large majority In the
State Senate Republicans, who, between the
two factions Of the Democracy, held absolutely the
balance Of power. In April, 1870 william W. Tweed, by
securing the support of 10 OF the IA Republican sena
tors procured he passage Of charter which virtually
made him dictator In all city affairs and he and his con-
federaes proceeded 30 make 10 the uttermost OF
their opportunities, ny rohhing the cty openly and
agraniy than ever before In the course OF the year
1870 clerk in the Controllers Office placed there AT the
instance of Orien discovered some OF the more gaig
the proofs Ia OBrcn who for several months kept these
proofs in his endeavOring, by threatening to
reveal them, TO extOrt money from Tweed X Co. In
the spring of 1871 another employee Of the Con.
troller's Office, who was not any body's creature
and others OF similar nature. He resigned his onice
and took measures 10 bring the facts 10 the knowledge
commenced making disclosures, O'Brcn whose place
no longer available for baekmaiDg purposes also
arranged for publication, and 10 the surprise OF every
body who knew anything about INN, appeared IN the
novel character Of a rcformcr The i'lned world was
astOunded by the revelations made Ill july and August
1S7l, and on the 4th OF september, At an indignation
meeting hcld AT tho Cooper Institute the famous Com
mittee OF seventy " was appointed.
REPOBIICAN MSDIRECnoN OF THE COMMITTEE OF
SEVENTY.
III. Although selected by a mass meeting" which
by a small committee, acting in advance of the
meetng ii fortunately, constituted mainly OF gcn-
tlemon who fairly represented the wealth, intelligence
and virtue of the community and included representa-
tive OF both the great parties Who willing and
anxious to act for the hest interests Of the community
without regard to party politics. They devoted them
selves at considerable sacrifice of individual interests
for several weeks TO the great task which they had
voluntarily assumed of exposing political frauds, and
bringing light the system of political corruption.
living through parties which had made hoec frauds
possible and undertook 10 punish the perpetrators OF The
vast wrongs and prevent their repetition They mad tbs
support of popular feeling IL greater extent
than any OTHER party or organization ever hai IN
community the eminent gentlemen who c0minsei
this Committee while possessed NJ all the qualities
heh ontitlc and enable men to win success ID private
he those eminent public stations 10 which several
of them bad been called. entirely unacquainted
will dat unpleasant but necessary Disno7s known ~
practical politics" and they undertook 10
consider the question Of nomnaions Tor office they were
bose by numerous professors OF ths ART All qnaned as
experts by long and unclem experience, who were able
TO satisfy them that their TO he tT9S
ing public should not be based upon the aroused .prM
the pundered taxpayers but upon intricate calculations
previously had controlled both parties, would he most
hkey through the Endorsement OF the C0mmttee OF
eral weeks the subcommittee OF seventy this eOcIo or
gentlemen whose purity OF purpose and skill IN their
nction in convention ana listened 10 the discussion
OF the H. spcctive merits candidates for the state and
would any meInber Of tho Committee have
had business 70 say nothing Of social relations
Perhaps these gentlemen are not 0be blamed for TAX
ing this course they painfully ignorant OF what Is
supposed TO be the duty Of every citizen Of the Republic
are actually made and administered. The result was
very sad the Committee lacked ne courage % lts
OF the great tida wave which had placed in power
returns of The election, that they might have dis
independent nominations. Their doubts and their
ignorance gave opportunity numb OF The lesser
politicians OF the party that in local AFFAIRS has always
been in the minority. or this opportunity they immedi-
ateiy awaited themselves, and certain veteran udguers
slid into the confidence and obtained the control Of The
Committees nominations The result was the eecton 10
the Legislature Of two three gentlemen ~ respectable
antccedents who had been hOnOraDy iii tinuishcd Two
three generations ago, but who had 0uilNed heii
capacity TO work. and majority OF experienced
politicians of the same general character as
which the Committee of Seventy was formed 10 abolish
Conspicuous in the latter Grass was Mr. O'5rien who III
and as part 81 his reward for exposing his c0nfcdcraes
was sent the highest branch of the state legislature
This was not done in ixloIce; he grounds upon wnG
his Endorsement was sought the reasons why II should
not have been giyen were full discussed ana ms oon
of respectable gentlemen, rclucianty 10 doIb,; 1hu
under pressure, the nature and source OF Whichls
vet 10 be disclosed sent 10 the Senate of the state or
NcW-NOrR, 10 make laws ana CONFIRM eNGuufS
apnolntments, man whom no one OF them would VIII
iu q
the efforts OF The Republican, portion vi me committees
conf entia advisers Mr. OBrles exploits III c0nnec-
ton i'm elections had convinced Mcssrs Murphy and
Bliss mat he might be exceedingly usefnl III enghenS
the public at the baot-boxes IN the interests OF Gen
Grant in the election Of s72 and II was at the instance
of ucn Who in 1869, desired send BIN Ia the state
Prison that in 1871, he WAS sent 10 the STATE Setc
Sufficient for the purpose, he should I've elected Mayor
Some other things appcncd soon after the election OF
which yet been explained. as, Tor exam
pie Tweed under indictment for crimes and msdeinean
ors resigned his office as Commissioner OF Puhic WORKS
pui,lcai rs lis assistant and successor hr. Ottoman
Enproration Counsel WHO had not been indicted.
signed his office aud Mayor Hail who had been indicted
appointed in his place j. Delgheld smith, Custom
house Republican The Committee Of Seventy, TO
IL, rco,ulnendaons for local Offices adv rscd that il
wSud JtstTnnfe AT every polling place in tine city Demo
erafie and Republican state tickets in equal numbers
with Reform municipal ticket appended A nominee
this part Of their programme In many districts tie
Democratic State ticket could not b" found IN The boxes
s1nerntended the work, besides getting many
thousands Of dollars contributed by the Committee
of seventy TO insure this WORK, was rewarded
with lucrative municipal office 10 which he was chosen
nv he votes OF al the officials of the Tammany breed
Democratic and Republican, on the Board having con
iroI of lie Office. The Legislature elected under the i'm
pulse OF The Reform movement gave us the present char
sn,ong some dozen different departments, of which
il responsible to anybody In particular al OF which are
in snia gonsm ana the city > left subject TO an unlimited
owcr OF taxation without the victims being able to hold
one body or department Responsible. .,.-s.,.,.t.
MOI the least note worthy of the reforms OF this Ifgs-
laure Was the egsating into municipal offices for long
terms the officials who had obtained lher 0inccs a. c
IDENTITIES or successors of Tweed, OGo1san, and Con
molly IL does not require much knowledge al PIdCiiCh
noirs nor auy extraordinary acumen to arrive al tie
roncuson that this cnasCulOn and degradation OF the
Reform movement was due not TO any want O honesty
an the l,ar of the Committee OF seventy, but 10
IameItable want Of courage aud independence ana an
erroneous choice OF agents. but The truth remains tht
Tt ia. headed monster which IGsropresents
The con u1ratiou OF NeWloIk, for HavcmcYcr, Maise,
Dsbccker aud general disoIganHatloD we IRE lhhcDtu
ia tbo.c Who made the secret bargain which the Com
Iittce OF seventy blindly and unlnONingE indOIaed
REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION 10 TAMhANYs reform.
~ The same who msled the Reform moN cmcnt OF
1871 seek to obstruct the Reform movement OF Tam
many Hail. In the bargains which have been made
,i, the last month for consolidation Of all clements
OF opposition 10 Tammany Hall The Republican party has