The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-19
WHAT TIIDRB HAS DONE
In Breaking Rings
the TRUE HISTORY OF The
DOWNFALL OF The TWEED
AND CANAL RINGS!
THE TWEED RING.

create the impression that Gov. Tilden did
not attack the Tammany ring until its
doom was already apparent; that he
waited long enough to make sure that he
was not attacking power that might vet
destroy him, and then claimed the whole
credit of its overthrow. The truth is
exactly the reverse of this. 1t can and
will be shown that Gov. Tilden attacked
the Tweed Ring while it had control of all
departments of the State and City govern
ments, owned both parties in the Legisla.
ture, and had q willing or ignorant tool in
The Ne'o York Times. which years after
wards published facts which came into its
possession with regard to the ring. and has
since attempted to seize the credit of the
destruction of that gigantic conspiracy.
It's claim is false and impudent. The
overthrow of Tweed and the Tweed Ring
is due to Samuel j. Tilden and Charles
OCouor..
In the first place, it is to be said that at
no time has Gov. Tilden ever preferred
claim to recognition as the man who had
achieved this result. In all the testi-
mouials and exhibitions of popular rejoicing
which followed this work, he has always
stood in the background, and urged that
the chief recognition be bestowed upon
others, Democrats as well as Republicans
who had aided his labors, and who had
shown, like himself, an unsel6sh determi-
nation to break up this corrupt organiza-
ton. no matter what party or what indi-
viduals might be hurt.
The Tweed ring originated in the Board
OF Supervisors created in 1857 by Re.
publican Legislature and Governor, but it
did not reach its full organization and
growth until 1869, when Oakley Hall be.
came Mayor. The New York Times pub
lished, two years and half later, accounts
largely fraudulent amounting Sll 900, 900,
OF which one third were passed in 1869.
nearly two thirds in 1870, and the re-
mainder in 1871. In 1860 the open attacks
OF Mr.. Tilden upon the Ring and its re-
turn blows at him began, long before The
Nelo York Times ceased to be its ally, for
Mt the time many seemly respectable
papers and men succumbed to its corrupt
and dreadful influence. So far from Mr..
TIlden's being hand and glove with these
men, as Republican newspapers charge,
the hostility between them began as soon
as the Ring began to form. Mr.. Tilden
opposed one of their schemes of plumber
as early as 1868, years before he was
made Chairman of the State Committee,
and they became bitterly hostile to HIM in
consequence. During the rule of the
King. Mr.. Tiden usually appeared in
State Conventions as delegate from his
native county, Columbia, because the Ring
would not allow him to go from New York
City.
Mr.. Tilden has himself stated why he
took the position of Chairman of the State
Committee.
II desire to SAGE from degradation tho
great party 1ctOse principles and traditions
'oere mtne by inheritance and conuiction
ana TO make an instrument Of n reaction
IN ne community which could alone sav,
tree government. Holding yearly TIE
emf Of a rope because 1 feared ,chere Il
might 90 II ! dropped az, Ikept the orgaai
zdtt0H an absolute independence, I nere7
took favor OF any sort from these men, on
from, any man 1 distrusted. had mol
much po,cer IN tie Legislature on question.
11hich interested private cuptdity: batt in n
Mate (O01,ol1fio1l ,rLoso tLa I,ot 49,.
society and business lCOuld 90, because Al
tedSJ 0r Int day or t,oo, those Nth toIon,
i acted generally had the MAJORITY"
At this period neither Mr., Tilden nor
the general public could sustain any
definite charge against members of the
Tweed Ring He had no faith in them,
and they feared him. They determined to
get rid OF him as Chairman of the State
Committee, and get the organization into
their handq. They made their attempt in
the State Convention of 1869; Mr.. Tilden
fought them and carried seven-eights Of
the Convention to their one, Before this
he had denounced in the Courts the orders
OF the infamous Judge Barnard in certain
cases in which Tweed was Interested,
Tweed's son being also Barnard $ receiver.
in the terms they deserved, and had beg un
the movement for judicial reform which
ended IN the impeachment or forced
resignation of Tweeds worst judges.
The election of 1869 gave the Demo
Gratis the law-making power for the first
time In "A years. The Tweed Ring would
rather have had Republican Legislature.
The latter they could always corrupt, while
the control OF a Democratic Legislature
might be taken out of their hands through
the party machinery. The Infamous
Tweed Charter for the City of New York
finally made its appearance in the Legisla-
ture OF 1870 and its progress was rapid. /;
was we'll understood that it would pass be-
cause 1t was known that very large
sum OF money would be expended to carry
It, Ii is said that 81 200. 600 was taken tc
Albany to carry this charter, much OF
which was doubtless pocketed by the people
who handled the money, Notwithstaud
ing the certainty Of its passage, Mr.. Til,
DEN went to Albany--this was in thu
Spring of lS70-and denounced il in =
fearless speech before Tweed, who wa,
himself chairman of the Senate COMMITTEE.
on Cities which was to pass upon IN,
character, lie branded it as a charte,
that would put self-government in New
York City I'm allowance for from four .,