The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-26
DEMOCRATIC REFORM TICKET.
The New York "Ring" Charter.

The New York Times, in it's fight
against Gov. Tilden, is endeavoring to
dodge its Endorsement of the municipal
charter Of 1870 Let us first see what
that charter was. BOSS" Tweed's case
will illustrate its practical operation. He
had never been able to become street COM
missioner-the great object of his ambition.
Charles G.. Cornell was appointed to the
Office by Republican mayor, and Tweed
made deputy. When the Office became
vacant, Mayor Hoffman, a Democrat,
could not be induced to appoint Tweed
He had now been turned out as deputy
and could not get back. On the loss of
his office, all his political power vanished at
once. The charter Of 1870, which Tweed
prepared and pushed through, vacated the
Office Of street commissioner and of the
functionaries Of the Croton department
within FIVE DAYS, vesting all their powers
in commissioner Of public works, and re-
CURED Mr.. A. Oakley Hall, the new mayor,
to appoint that commissioner. 1t was
known to everybody that Tweed was to be
appointed. The charterl passed 90
the 5th of April, and the 9th
Tweed was appointed. His term was
four years. The power of the governor to
remove him on charges was repealed, and
all powers Of removal by the city govern
ment. Impeachment was restricted by
the condition that the mayor alone could
prefer charges. and trial could only be had
if every one Of the six judges Of the COM
mon pleas was present. la like manner the
Offices of three Of the five heads of the
parks were granted for five years to Peter
B. Sweeney, Thomas g. Fields and Henry
Hilton, giving them control Of Central
park and every park in the city, and Of the
boulevards. The office of chamberlain wa:
granted to Mr.. John j. Bradley. The
department Of police was granted for from
FIVE to eight years to Messrs. Henry
Smith, B. +, Manniere, Bosworth ant
Brennan. The departments Of health
fire, excise, charities, docks aud building
were granted to others. BY an amend
ment passed twenty days later, Messrs
Connolly and O'Gorman were brought in
TO the same category.
Thus the act of 1870 consolidated tn
ring, and enthroned it in New York city
The charter was at once attacked by tn
World, the Erenjng Post. the Sun an
Tribune. Mr.. Tilden had opposed
from the beginning, and his views wer
presented in an.ablc speech, exteusivel
published at the time,
Where was the New York Times, tn
great mouth. piece Of reform,ln these dar
days? VIII the ring, not against il
Here is an extract from Times editorii
Of April 5, 1870:
Senator Tweed is in fair way to di
tlngulsh himself as a retormcr. Haviu
gone so far as the champion OF the ne
election bill and charter, he seems to hay
no idea OF turning back. Perhaps, liE
Macbeth he thinks that unoer existin
circumstances, returning were as tediot
as 90 Der, but at all events he has Ut
the people of Manhattan Island under las
ing Obligations to him. "
trust that Senator Tweed will manifest IL
same energy in the advocacy Of this la
reform which has marked his actions vii
regard to the charter"
Here is another from the same sourc
under date Of the 9th Of April 1870:
Let us be thankful-only we have
vague idea that the Republicans we
rather useful to the authors Of the ne
charter in the recent contest, But for Il
Republicans the Young Democracy M
T'ilden and his friends might to-day
at the top of the tree, and the grand sac
ems hanging all Of row to the low
branches. Mr.. Hall and his gssociat
will doubtless sho1o proper appreciate
If tie assistance rendered them Gy the Il
puJiicaRS when the enemy was cryin
War to the knife, and the knife to Il
hilt.'
And another of the 18th:
"The passage Of the new charter and
the election law-the latter by far Il
more substantial reform of the two-cou
not have been secured without the he
Of the Republicans in the legislature, al
hence the credit Of Il as as much theirs as
" bthf ~ Utt LWJcd DtUtOCINtU
1t will he observed that the Times speal
Of the election law az by far more su
stautial reform" than the Tweed charte
This election law was the means by whit
Mayor Hall acquired such immense DOW,
oyer the inspectors and canvassers. and 9
the machinery Of elections that the rir
was justified in thinking it could alor
without the voters. 1t suppressed the O
position of the practical politicians in Il
wards, who saw how it was capable Of b
ing worked. In the contest Of 1871,
discouraged them from joining the reform
ers more than any other power welded
the ring. In some districts men of gre
local influence openly said it was Of
use TO run ticket so long as that pow
could be exercised against them Tweed
election law was taken with Tweed's cha
ter. Mr.. Tilden opposed both. The Ne
York Times supported both, and yet has Il
supreme ilnpudence to accuse Mr. Tide
Of having been in league with Tweed fro
the outset. Does it suppose the Poop
have forgotten the scurvy part it play'
six years agoY