New-York tribune., 1877-09-20
Charles Sumner has planted itself now upon
the highest plane of Rcpublicanism.
TIE rSrS OF TAuNANY.

TIE USES or TiuNANY.
The uses to which the Democratic leaders
and apostles Of Democratic Reform put Tam
many Hall, recall the defence made lew
years ago by a Democratic Chief of Police III
a New England city, who bad been charged
with not only winking at violations OF law by
the proprietors of disreputable houses. but ac-
tually promoting lawlesness himself by renting
his own property TO dIsreputable persons fer I'M
lawful PURPOSES These facts being established,
complaint was made by decent, law-abidnS cit
izens that the Chief was unfit for the ONCE,
and ought to be ousted His defence was that
il was a part of his detective system to keep
these places in operation, and to be on CONT
Dental terms with their proprietoTs ana
inmates. Thieves end burglars and all suspl-
cious characters. he said, frequented such
places and, after the commission OF CRIME,
the first direction of The detectives search was in
these most naturalresorts of criminals. HIS eoiu-
sion with the law-breakers of minor consequence
was, as he represented it, with definite purpose
TO use them as traps for detecting and appre-
heDdng greater offenders. Plausible as TINS
defence was, it was rejected by the deceht ana
law-abding citizens, who happened 10 nave
the power at the time, and he was turned out
of Office and was not reinstated until year
or two later when the Democrats marched
into power behind the banner OF the large
general Reform, about which they talk with
such vague earnestness, and restored him and
his system 1t seems to be fayorite Demo-
cratic notion.
1t is only upon this theory that we can ac-
count for the continuance of ammany Hall as
IN organization. just as the Democratic detect
i've, upon the first offer of a reward for the
arrest of thief, goes directly to the
brothel which he favOrs with bis protection
and patronage, and which is indebted to
him for immunity, and then sets his
traps to "pul " his victim, so the Democratic
statesman, when public thief or reprobate is
wanted and the reward of Office seems waiting
the lnformer, goes straight to Tammany Hall
and spreads his snares. And it is remarkable
what success has attended the institution
in this regard. For the past six years
Tamnany Hall has done more business,
and reaped more profit in the detec-
ton of its own thieves than any gang in the
country. No other organization ever prohted
SO largely from throwing out a thief or two to
the hue and cry. None ever bad the lmpu-
dence to demand the privilege of conducting
all the proceedings i'll the trial of the thieves 1t
turned States evidence against. Consider for
a moment what Tammany Hail has been worth
to Democratic leaders and the Democratic
party. Here was Tweed, the Boss of the par
ty. and head of the gang engaged in
plundering the city on a stupendous scale
for years and every Democratic lead
er profting in greater or less degree-if not
in money, then in political advancement
and Official positiOn-by his management.
Tweed was worth everything to them. The
whole crowd consented to all his rascail-
ties, and enjoyed the profits OF them, TIL
one day there was a hue and cry; thlcf
was wanted, and appearances indicated that
the detective who brought him in would get
something handsome from the people. 1t did not
need the detectives sagacity to fix upon Tam
many Hall the first place TO search. MIR. Samuel
j. Tllden laid his hand with an unerrlng IN
stinct, If not with positive knowledge, upon
the collar of the man nearest to him, and
said: "Here he is. Let us have Reform"
Ii happened to be Mr.. William ii. Tweed.
Mr.. Tilden was as successful az the police
man who kept a hotel for the detection of
thieves He took his reward, and 80 did Tam
many. For Tammany made such din and
row over "necking" this thief. whose plumber
it had been dividing, and giving him up to
the officers, and set up such howl about Re-
form Oh the heels Of it, that the innocent pub
lie said it was great act Of self-sacrltice
and patriotism, and should be literally
rewarded. So Tammany served its purpose,
and the leaders of the party pOcketed their
two profits one out of Tweed's thefts, the
other ont of the reward for giving him up.
And it did not stop there. Tammany Hall has
been trading on its reputation as thief-catcher,
and the Democratic party on its Reform record,
ever since. They furnish their own thieves
to be caught, and their own abuses to
be reformed, and then make no end of howl
ing about the tremendous things they have
accomplished And now, the old cry having
become little stale, they have trotted out
this poor old broken-down highwayman,
Tweed, to help Tammlny some more, If pos
sible, by disclosures of rascalities on the part
of various Democratic statesmen who were
formerly, but are not now, of that Organiza-
ton.
Well, hasn't this thing been carried about
far enough7 Haven't they squeezed this old
person pretty nearly dry Or is lie to be kept
on hand for fresh confessions every time an
old Tammany war-horse leaves the Organiza
ton and makes it necessary to expose him 7
Wouldn't it be well, on the whole, to close
out this detective business, and try little
while if we cannot have an honest city govern
ment without having to keep up political
brothel to entrap thieves7
GEORGIA AND REPUDIATON.
It appears that Mr.. j. Hurry Smith, of At