National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-06-22

| torney General Fairchild In an Unenyiable
Position-was Mr.. Tildcn in Il?
The letter Of Mr. John d. Townsend. which
Is In fact disclosure Of valuable secrets, has
created but ono sentiment in the New York
press, which Is that II places Attorney General
Fairchild in very unenviable position, and
puts him in corner whence he cannot cscare
| without the clearest and fullest explanation.
Townsend's letter is not exactly Twecd's con-
fession, but II embraces all the points of that
confession. The public are now pretty well
advised what Tweed proposed to tell in order
| to regain his liberty, barring the names Of tho
people he WINS going TO tell on. When We
know who these people were we will probably
get to the true inwarlness of Fairchild's re-
| fusing to accept Tweed's offer. Tweed was un.
doubtcdly vulgar thief, but the old man has
been subjected to great deal Of mental and
physical suffering, and he ought to be treated
with the same lonicucy with which the other
thieves were treated
Mr. Fairchld held Twoed's statement along
| time before he concluded to return Il and not
accept the propositions. What were the rca-
SONS therefor Was II because it trenched
upon matters connected with the New York
Central and Eric railroads? In 1868 Tweed
was the Senator manipulating affairs at Albany
for the former road, and In 1869 and 1870 for
the latter. Mr.. Fairchild's father and himself
have held intimate official relations with the
Erie road and Mr.. Tildcn has been connected
with railroad matters in one way and
another, and perhaps that had something to do
with the non-acccptancc Of Twccd's statement.
However that may be, such things are init
mated, and the New York papers are severe
on Fairchild, as the following extracts will
show:
From the World
The case we repeat, isnot now the case Of Tweed.
II Is the case OF Fairchild The ring rohhcries are
an old story. IL Is known on moral evidence by
all men already. as Tweed offers to make II known
Bgt Is II i is true That tSe preen hon s,S
General Of the state has been led by natural po.
ltical or any other Affiliations to screen the par.
takers of those bygonc crimes, and In order TO
screen them TO daily and triie, II not blnnkly To
break filth, with the miserable and feeble old man
Who has Seer made the ssaPesoat Of them all
That that Is what Is charged by the very facts Of the
case. That Is really serious matter-a very much
more serious matter than the fate Of broken old
malefGctor like Tweed. who deserves nothing be.
! Sond the human pity which all men accord him.
adopting them NH NOT serve bm or nm mo nr
sons, II there are any whom he is anxious to pro
tect Or course the whole story assure to come out
personal and that he perverted his public trust To
serve his private ends that will be the end Of Mr.
iacs now appear, 1--WE were forced to name the
person who appeared most unmanly, most false
most tricky and most contemPtibs IN .he neFotlG
we should not name Tweed.
From the New York Herald:
Piquant and singing rs Mr.. Townsend's let
ter To the Attorney Genernn II, II will not satisf,
the public The community feels that IL has
"a hat TUa.
aud will never be satisfied until Il Is In the pousscs
a sion OF the actual document. The reasons for III
= suppression can never be understood until 1t 4
known who are hit by the confession and whG
, particular criminals the Attorney General woult
naturally ally. wish to screen But the strange wa!
!. that Twecds confession incriminates somebod,
e whom he has personal interest IN protecting
business has been so tortuous and unmanly SO full
OF sneaking subterflgesand disingenuous evasiOns
As to force upon all honest men the conclusion tina
:. he Is either aman without personal honor or |
. plant tool In the hands Of men stronger than him
y selt According To the letter Of Mr. Town
4 wiser throughout these strange proceeding w
4 sincerely hope that this may prove Incorrect 10
q Mr.. Tilden cannot afford to have it supposed tha
he L. In any way responsible for the tortiou
9 and deceptive proceedings Of Mr. Fsirchid.
!. From the New York Tribune;
y Mr.. Fairchild may not have been impresse,
with 2, sincerity q This Offer though he seem
though 4 had only the offerings Of Mr.. Fairchiid
Information. The public believed, and was pr"b
ably right In believing, that this veteran liar an,
> thief was going into the business Of telling IN
truth and Furnishing theft on gigantic scale. iii
/ manner was that 81 aman In earnest 1t is a pit
o that as much cannot be said Of the Attorney Ger
y eral II seems great pity when we reflect HOY
y much this surrender involved, ID meant com
= plee exposure Of the city and State oticials IN
Legislators, the Lobbyists and the judges who ha
L corrupt dealings with the ring the manufacturin
10 concerns and printing offices founded and mai
aged by the ring for the ring, and even the railroad
N q the ring and their management Many OF fines
- disclosures he would have fortified with indor,c
, checks The exposure would have been thoroug
!, aud hna Hardly stolen dollar would have lac
l, len untracted. Tweed knew where the none
V undiscovered. Tweed knew pretty well iist VIII
got the money and how much. The great scanda
r. OF American politics would have been laid mar
once and for all to the last hidden corner an The
o we might have buried 1t from view forever
G From the Sun;
e In brief, according to LAWYER Townsend
e Tweed was ready 10 surrender all his property,
10 furnish testimony that would save millions IL m
city, ana To give evidence that would bring aboi
h me conviction and punishment Of many Of m
~ ring plnnderers who are now at large and cannt
y o,herWhe De reached Mr.. Townsend MAXI
s. chMEes AGAINST Attorney General Fairchild TN
It Mr. fairchild must take notice Of He would hay
IF done better had he curbed his wrath and prune
|. his phraseolo y. ''>
d From the Times:
70 There is only too much ground for the col
Is yiction that the Interests OF the state ignore
Ii by the officers to whom they are intrusted All
that the selfish intrigues Of vulgar politicians Al
much more eagerly pursued than the punt sinner
Ia Of ring thieves or the protection OF the public.
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