New-York tribune., 1876-11-24

commiserate him on his return to captivity.
An indefinite sympathy undoubtedly existed IN
the soft hearts of many who feel pity for even
the most criminal in misfortune, but II was
limited by the reflection which came to all
sooner or later of how grossly he had violated
the grave obligations of honesty ana justice
which absolute power had made doubly bind
ing on this man. In the end pity gave place.
even with the most thOughtless and sympathetic
to n sterper feeling, which recognized the JUS
tice of his hard fate.
And with the events of yesterday the climax
of the romance is reached. What is to follow
has the less interest to the general public, since
tbe sequel can be so easily foreseen. For him no
longer luxurious captivity and lax rulings OF
iustice: no purchases of privileges as III
the past-even of the opportunity for es-
cane. A captivity of hardship awaits Tweed
and probably short, sharp trial, leading IN
ovitoblv TO State Prison. We hear of one
contingency that promises him some relief,
but the conditions are so far removed irori 'nc
seeming possibilities, and involve such sacrifices
of his friends still so high IN Office and position
that they may yet serve HIM. that we anticipate
no result alike advantageous to the puDilc goou
and to the prisoner. But III any event, whether
he seeks safety for himself at the sacrince OF
others, or goomily and silently suffers MS
nunishment, the end for him is hardly dluerent.
In the one case a brief delay in contracted
cell of the debtors prison, short quick trlal
with overwhelming evidence against him, ana
only technical quibbles in his defense, ana
then long confinement in State Prison In the
other event longer delay under civil attach
ment. but finally release, Punishment, and
Infamous obscurity. Neither fate Is to be
envied E: either sacrifice Tweed may well shud-
der to contemplate.
Tweed returns to the city under very changed
conditions from those surrounding him at the
time of his flight, and they are all the worse
for him. Two complications have arisen which
may well cause him to fear the issue OF the
threatened criminal suits, and render him hope
less of any further struggle against the courts,
even with the one of highest resort in his
favor. A large number of additional indict-
ments. of which the public has hitherto known
nothing, and of which Tweed himself
was told only three days before his Hight
were framed in July, 1873, after the
surprising decision of the Court ol
Appeals reversing the. cumulative sentence OF
twelve years on Blackwelfs Island. These IN
dictments were framed to cover the oflenscs
included in the omnibus Indictment; separ-
ate trial and conviction on each was resolved
upOn with Ingersoll and Garvey as witnesses
for the State. When the fact that these indct-
ments had been found was communicated to
Tweed a year ago, he recognized the purpose
of the Statd to prosecute him relentlessly, and,
declaring with an oath he would no longer
continue the unequal fight, he flcd The second
of the changed circumstances has even more
terror for Tweed than the first. Woodward,
whom he so heartily wished dead, has re-
turned, and his evidence, like that of lnSer-
soil and Garvey, may yet be turned against
his old master. To what extent this would
complicate Tweed's defense it is not difficult
TO imagine. 1t will not take Tweed long to
discover whether or not Woodward is already
in the hands of their mutual enemy the coun-
sci of the State. Our information is that
Woodward has already resolved OF course Tor
his own safety, to repair what he can OF the
mischief he has helped to do. Mr.. Tweed has
doubtless lost his once potent influence over
his former adhcrent; If not, the steps neces-
sary to protect the latter from its exercise
have already been securely taken.
Another feature of the altered situation is
one which has more teTrors for others than for
Tweed himself, if it be true that Woodward
can establish as well as Tweed the corrup-
ton and fraud by which men still high in
authority obtained their power. What it is
possible to prove in this direction, or how far
the further reformation of courts and Legisa-
tnre and State Offices is concerned through
the instrumentaity of the present captives, re-
mains a problem whose future solution may
astonish the public, and whose present mystery
is a source of constant anxiety to many hearts