The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-14

! There has been much discussion IN refer
ence to the publication Of the affidavits OF
James II. Ingersoll and Andrew j. Garvey IN
reference to the great Ring frauds. These
afidavits have been before the people for
few days and have elected various express
sions of opinion. Briefly expressed, they set
forth that during the reign of the old Tam
many Ring three of the city authorities
Peter b. Sweeny. William M. Tweed and
Richard b. Connolly-conspired to defraud
the city of millions of dollars to fabricate I'M
just bills to issue fraudulent warrants on the
treasury and to divide the proceeds OF the
defalcations in the proportion OF twenty-five
per cent to Mr.. Tweed, twenty per cent to Mr..
Connolly and ten per cent to Mr. Sweeny. 1t
has been generally understood that Mr..
Tweed and Mr.. Connolly were engaged in
transactions of this character, and although
suspicion has attended the course of Mr..
Sweeny his friends and great many who
respected his ability have hoped, at least for
the credit of political human nature, that
when the truth was known it would be found
he was victim of circumstances, and not an
absolute daring, reckless thief.
Peter B. Sweeny for many years was
master of New York. He is now an exile
from New York, and practically, under the
presentation of the Ingersoll affidavits
fugitive from justice His friends have at
tempted his exoneration by saying that he
was compelled TO deal with ignoble elements
to accomplish great results, and, without being
q willingly corrupt man himself, used cor
rupt means to attain public aims. They
contend that if Mr.. Sweeny had not been
overwhelmed by these nefarious influences he
would have exterminated them. They say
that at the time when Judge Barnard granted
the injunction which put an end to the power
of the Ring it was his intention to make an
alliance with Governor Tilden and Mr..
O'Conor, destroying Connolly and Tweed,
and giving the democracy into the hands Of
the very men who are now pursuing him as
thief and public plunderer. They recall the
criticism Of Horace Greeley, when speaking
of the Ring leaders, that Sweeny, I'M
like his colleagues, s'was o high and
towering spirit" They have cherished
the hope that he would return in
q
ing to his intellect and his experience return
o wiser and ripper man and vindicate the con-
fidence of his friends. The severest blow
these anticipations have received is the ar
raignment Of Mr.. Sweeny upon the afidavits
of Ingersoll and Garvey, and there is only
one way in which this arraignment can be
answered. Peter b. Sweeny must come home
and answer these charges before jury Of his
countrymen.
AS TO these afidavits we must remember
that they come from confessed thieves, who
have become informers to protect themselves.
Nothing could sustain the testimony OF such
men before a jury but the strongest circum-
stantial and documentary evidence The fact
that Mr.. Ingersoll says that he gave Mr..
Sweeny money is nothing but the fact that
Mr. Sweeny remains abroad in seclusion
under such charge confirms it in the minds
of the people. Therefore Mr.. Sweeny must
come home. Thus far he has escaped indict-
ment or even q legal formal averment
OF theft. Now, with his property attached
and his personal liberty threatened. his per-
sonal honor under judicial suspicion, he must
return to this country. He is an outlaw, q
fugitive, and for him to remain abroad any
longer under these charges is to confess that
he is nothing more than common vulgar
thief, living outside Of the jurisdiction Of the
country; no better than Tom Fields or Harry
Genet or Lagrave, or Sharkey the murderer
who is now living IN Cuba under the immu-
nifty arising from the absence Of an extradition
Law with Spain.
If Peter b. Sweeny comes home then we
shall have the Ring issues tried upon a fair
basis Thus far they have not been so tried.
The policy of the managers of the campaign
against the old Tammany Ring has been
that Of terrorism. Mr. Tilden and
Mr.. OConor have been animated largely
by patriotic considerations, we admit
but none the less by desire to rescue the
democratic party from the odium thrown
upon it by Tammany misrule. Attorney
General Barlow, Judge Davis and others who
act with them have been inspired by repub-
lican feeling rising almost to fanatcism.
Consequently the campaign against the Ring
has been q campaign of terrorism. Guilt has
been assumed. Upon the mere assertion of
crime or hint of punishment the leading
Tammany men have fed. We have no doubt
that in many cases this fight was a just con-
fession Of shame. but ii is for the interest
Of public morality that we should know
Just what these Ring leaders did 1t
is for the interest Of justice that
there should be q trial that would
bring out all the facts connected with the
administration Of New York by the great
Tammany alliance. Peter b. Sweeny is in
position to demand and receive this trial
He must now come home, and, appearing
before the bar Of this country, demand abso-
lutte justice.
In giving this advice to Mr.. sweeny we are
willing to give him the benefit Of the conf