New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-30


A loud demand is already heard for the pub
lcalion of Twccd's rejected statement. The
prisoner and his counsel are informed, with
great deal of positivcneSs and solemnlly, That
the public expects tins of them; the public
must br allowed to judge FOR itself whether Mr..
Fmicmld has acted properly; the public must
know what IT is that Tweed offered To tell F;
the public, rs the court of final appeal In such
controversies, must have the whole case laid
before #, documents and all, without days
DELAY; otherwise the wretchcd Tweed and the
almost equally wrctched Townsend. shall he
scorchcd IN the flames of popular indignation.
We do not wish to speak disrcspectiully of the
voice Of the press but this clamor seems to us
absrrd.
Mr.. Fairchild remarks very scnsihly, in lns
report 10 the Governor, that any testimony
which prisoner. IN Twced's position and with
rwoed's character may offer for sale, needs
corTohOation to be OF value. Both Mr.. Peck
ham and the Attorney General made efforts To
find some Independent evidence TO substantiaic
the statements of Tweed; and tho prisoner
himself, as well rs his counsel, knew what was
required of him, and must be supposed TO have
furnished all that he could, or all that he was
that MIR. Fmrclild says the statement" re-
manned practically worthless. Nor was it
merely unconfrmcd IL was fatty contra
dictcd in several points by Tweed himself.
When lac supposed That Mr.. OConor wished
to be told IA certain thing he FASTENED to meet
that gcntlcmans views, and Incorporated the
desired testimony in his written statement.
When he supposed afterwards that Mr.. Fair
child wished to be told just the reverse, he
displayed similar alacrty IN accommodating
himself TO the changed aspect of the case, and
denied in the oral examination what he had
affirmed in writing. He seems to have been
equally ready to swear to the truth or lie,
to SANDER the innocent or bciray the guilty,
to give up hls own friends or to shield the
supposed friends of his prosecutors-to do any
thing, say anything that would unlock ms
prison doors.
Now what good purpose can possibly be
served by pouring forth this flood of scandal
in the ncwspapersP II the dirty torrent had
been strained through the sieve Of judicial
investigations some useful truths might, per-
haps, have been separated from the residuum.
But coming as the mere schedule of uncorlob-
GRATED stori which Tweed was willing to tell
as the price of his liberty, this statement can
be of no real use to the public. no advantage
to the cause of justice. 1t may satisfy pru-
iicnt love of scandal. 1t may crafty those
who delight in the sensation of blackcnng phi
waite character. But it may do an irreparabe
wrong to the innocent. and give birth TO end
less rumors and suspicious which will bcsmirch
the reputation of New York rs a community
without bringing home serious offence to any
specific yers0n IN it. If Tweed can be made
TO testify in court, well and good but let us
have no irresponsible statements that are in
capabe of being tested. A wild notion seems
to be current in town that Tweed is sincere
pcnitcnt anxious To tell the whole truth and
make what amends he can for his sirs. He is
nothing of the sort. He is tired of STAYING in
mil and to secure his liberation he appears to
be ready to say anything. TO insist upon the
publication of all his alleged disclosures and
ordinations under circumstances which pre-
elude n genuine investigation OF them, and
leave the truths and the lies fostering together
in the public sight, is an offence against de-
ccncy. If he believes it polite to publish this
abatement he can do SO. Let it be understood
then that he does it for his own purposes and
that the public will receive it with all the res
crvatlons which prudence and common fairness
demand 1t Is never safe to presume that
William NJ. Tweed tells the truth.