The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-27
THE NON JOHN MORRIssEY.
Tweed's Recent Revelations and their Motive
-Morrissey an Honest Man.


Tweed l. unburdenng himself before n
committee Of the Board Of Aldermen. and mp
parently has no hesitancy or reluctance In tell
Ing all he knows without stipulation for release.
or even favorable consideration. 80 far "a is
made public. When summoned to give this tes-
timony before a committee of the State Senate,
eating senator Woodin. he declined, and gave it
10 be- understood that his knowledge was the
price Of his release. He also claimed 10 be an
ill-used individual. because his confession was
made public without his deriving any benefit
from il and he undoubtedly had some SYM
pathy from the public on that account Now.
however. he IL apparently answering as freely
about his own theiis as If he had no concern in
them, and was merely iestifying Of some piece
of casual Information. while he is equally frank
with the characters OF his confederates
But there are some suspicious circumstances
connected with this, gushing flow 81 testimony
that Tweed is solely DESTROYS Of relieving his
oyerburdened bosom Of its load Of criminal Sc
crets which have been carried SO long without
apparent burden. or that he is Influenced by
purely philanthrOpic desire 10 benefit the city
which he SO plundered Neither Of these mo-
tives are in accordance with the character Of
the ex- statesman. There is "A very natural sus-
picion that Tweed is not giving his testimony
without an expectation at least Of deriving u
benefit from II. ana That suspicion II Increased
by the fact that thus far he has not borne witness
against ANYBODY except those who. are out Of
office or are the aNowcd enemies Of Tammany
Hall He l. very free in his testimony against
James OBrien. who was the means Of maxi ing
the disclosures that brought ruin on the Ring
and against many others. Republicans and
democrats, who are, opposed 70 the present
against John Kelly or any Of his satellites. al
though many OF them Were in place and power
during his reign. and il would he very strange
indeed II they had not some share in the plum
der, To hold n municipal office in New York.
while Tweed was in power. and not share in the
corruption. was about as difficult ~ to sail in
pirate snip and he an honest merchant
Mr.. John Morrissey declares that Tweed's
disclosures are made under the direction Of the
present political management Of Tammany
and al -
ncnts. while It's own criminals are shielded. 1t
is not doubted that Tweed tells the truth about
OBren and the rest. for they We're all tarred
with the same brush. and merely quarreed
win Tweed for larger share Of the plumber
but he does not tell all the truth nor implicate
those Of his confedcrntes who are still in power.
In spite Of the bad name OF Morrissey, he is au-
thorty 10 a certain extent on this question. He
has heen made tho seapegoat OF all sorts OF evil
repute. but there are some characteristics to
John Morrissey for which he does not receive
credit. lie has been Il prize-flghtcr and he is II
gambler. hut we believe that according to the
code of his profession he Is honest. and that he
has never made his Political influence the means
Of theft. We nre inclined 10 think that when he
offered himself rs "A candidate for Congress he
was SINGER" in his statement that he wanted the
the world 1t was his mistaken notion that
being n member Of Congress would give any
responsibility 10 himself or family for II simply
made his past career and present occupation all
the more conspicuous and disreputahle. but II
was not IN unnatural notion Done of his educa-
tion and surroundings. At all events. while in
quietly.
We apprehend that in municipal and State
politics he Is not altogether without guile and
that he does many things with the idea that they
Will make him votes in his district but We 10
not believe that he il a thief like Tweed and the
rest Of the Ring. There is line Of distinction
between a gambler and Il thief, and Morrisscy
has kept on the right side of IT, Taere il Il sort
Of bull dog honesty which comes from hatred
Of underhanded and sneaking PERFORMANCES
which q man Of the reputation of Morrissoy
might DE proud To exhibit To do him justice
ll,.t ~ h. .4lf
IN coarse way that. being professional gam
bier. he would not stOop To- steal. Besides, such
man is likely enough 10 have a sympathy with
the workingnen, aud to be al odds with their
Ilundercrs. He Is not II solitary example Of
such n character. John Gully. NJ p. fought
prize fights IN his early manhood. and made his
fortune and lived by the turf but while a menu
Der of Parliament and. in fact. during the whole
of his long life. he was not accused of any want
of honor in the technical meaning Of the
term. lie was not Baron Grant. us it may be
said tiiHt MOrrissny was not Boss Tweed
Therefore, when MorrsScy says that Tweed is
not telling a the truth. his word carries a good
deal of weight with 1t. especially when backed
10y cOrrobOrating circumstances.