The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-02
From the 50. Louis Republican.
The New York Times" and Tweed,

The New ok "T1mes' and Tweed.
The New York Times INDUCES in a good
deal of unseemly yet very natural wrath
because the Republican has ventured to
use a certain amphlet-prepared and
published by Gov. Tilden in lS73-for the
purpose of showing up the true inwardness
Of the Tweed ring. The Times theory
concerning this ring is that it was purely
Democratic arrangement; that it was in
vented, elaborated and managed by Demo
Gratis only; that the Republicans had moth
ing to do with it, directly or indirectly:
and finally, that when the iniQuity was
fully ripe the Times stood forth solitary and
alone and after long and desperate fight
won brilliant victory and crowned itself
with immortal honors to the exclusion of
everybody else, A very pretty theory, in-
deed, and we do not wonder that the Times
clings to it with astonishing pertinacity.
But, like great many other pretty theo-
ries it lacks one rather important element
truth. 1t is merely an ingenious fiction,
designed for the journalistic glorihcation and
pecuniary reinforcement of the sheet from
which it emanated. The Tilden pamphlet
effectually exposed and exploded the gilt
tering bubble blown by the Times, and we
therefore cannot blame that paper for los
ing its temper whenever quotations are
made from this mastery political broch-
ure. The best way to avoid the irritation
is to stop repeating the old falsehoods
which Gov. Tilden demolished three years
ago, and which the New York organ of
Republicanism is now mastering into the
service of the Cincinnati ticket As often
as the Times presumes to tell its little story
we shall be under the disagreeable neces-
sity of spelling it by reproducing the facts
as detailed by the man most thoroughly
familiar with them.
Meanwhile we present an extract from
an article on the Tweed business-from
the penn OF Mr.. George William Curtis
which appeared in HdJper'S Weekly last
November, as follows:
The combined REGULATORS had everything well
| arranged for their defence when, in 1871 an ex.
traordinary mass OF figures was published in the
| New York Times concerning the expenditures of
the city. Though Ii was not very Ineligible, yet
the publication was intended and adapted to excite
deep suspicion fthe vlany which was in progress.
| represented by Mr., Tllden Gin distinction from
brains personhed by Sweeney achieved its final
victory. The mere crude mass Of did not eulighten
the public, nor did IL cOnfouud Tweed. A day or
two, however, before the election IN the autumn
1871, suit was was brought by the state against
| Tweed and lngersoll and some other confederatcs
nexed schedules prepared by Mr. Tllden, with
explanatory atdayits By himself and others. which
presented and subsautated so plain case of theft
that. Tweed never dared deny It. Never during
the whole two years Of his senatorial term did he
presume to take his In the legislature for which
he was returned. From the moment when he
peruscd Mr.. Tilden's statement his ambition wa,
paralyzcd."
According, then, to Mr.. Curtis and
HdTper' s Weekly-unlmpeachable Republi
can authority-the Times attack upon the
ring was merely. IAN extraordinary mass Of
crude figures, not very intelligible;" and il
was Mr. Tiden's statement" and not
the clumsy strategy of the Times. which
''paralyzed the ambition" of Tweed aud
put an end to the gigantic conspiracy that
had plundered the city Of New Y ork for SC
many years. This Endorsement of the Til
den phamphlet, coming from such source
settles the question at issue beyond any
, further dispute, and throws the Times
claim completely out of court, where it i:
likely to remain.