, 1877-10-28

suppose you mean in his speeches and letters.
When he became Governor, at a time when no
body else desired the nomination, what kind of
men a'd he bring forward to support him in this
squad Of little fellows like Fairchfla.''
" But he carried the nomination over MANY
competitors at the Democratic National Con-
" It WIS his wealth that did that,' said Mr..
Tweed. The politicians Of the Democratic
party ln the South had no money, and could be
picked up by Tilden's agents That is where he
got bis strength in the South, but when he capt.
urcd the delegations he got no ability Into
them. The persons be selected to manage his
case In Congress, excepting Mr.. Hewitt, who be-
ionged to New York, we're incapable Of Saving
him., Right In the midst Of that controversy In
Congress, there were able Democrats, members,
and others, from the West and South, In New
York, who would not bother themselves to sec
Ti1den counted in. They preferred Hayes"
NEW YORK POLITICS ALWAYS DISHONEST.
"When you came to politics did you ever re-
motely entertain the idea OF such proportions
as the King afterward assumeda"
"No. The fact is New York politics were a.
ways dishonezt,-loug before my time There
never was time when you couldn't buy the
Board OF Aldermen except now. Il 1t wasn't
Tor John kelly's severity Won could buy them
now. 4 politician comm. forward takes things
as they arc. The population is too hopclessly
split up into races and factions to govern it
nnuer universal suffrage except BY the bribery
HIS GREAT MISTAKE.
"Well, Mr.. Tweed, Oh a general review, what
do you think has been your great mIstake-I
mean in judgment-as apoliticianl''
In pressing forward for leadership. I was
always ambitious to be influential and to con-
troll. When was 20 years old joined an Odd
Fellows Lodge, md in three months WIS the
President Of it. Liking busy occupation and
social influence among men, l think pressed on
too confidently. oughtu't to have tired to be
leadcr.''
mistake, tell rue what act OF your life-wtat
performance, :.rathcr-you take most pride in"
Mr.. Tweed stopped and ios,acd drcary.
.tNothinG. I don't see anything great that
did.'
"Not the new boulevaFds, nor the grades, nor
the docks!n
''Nothing," said Mr.. Tweed. 'tMy vanity
sees nothing to delight 1t. recall nothing
eminent"
c1v1L-sERv1cE REFORM
this city and start it afresb, if that were the
price OF your release!''
II shouu adopt the Ciyi1-scrvice po1icy,''
said Mr.. Tweed. "There is no earthly policy TO
stra'ghtcn out the abuses Of patronage but
strict civil service. Its defect, OF COURSE is to
put sort Of aristocracy ia the public Offices.
When men hold their positions independent OF
ioIty. But But tie crils Of PATRONAGE sst,
IL thcm e IN Kew Yore are ese as' ucuaa6e
was carrying pay-rols OF $4,000 year for per-
sons who did nothing At all. No adequate ser
vice is given here for official salaries. Few of
these persons who are getting s3,5D0 and $1,000
d year can earn $l,0tI) in any other business.
They are in each othcr's way, and are quarreling
as to who shall do the work. II they worked in
merchants stores, they would have to go down
town at o'clock or O'Clock, and, with an in
tcryal Of half an hour for dinner, stay in the
store until 9 at night and in the business season
remain until g. They go to our public offices By
qpence is enormous expense When began to
keep horses bought TWO and hired one man.
Then bought another horse and hired two
mcu, and l got less service than when had one
man. The passion to get Office has become na-
tiona In America, and it is absurd to be 4 poll
tician under existing conditions without holding
plenty Of patronage We broke ourselves down
a.e in the reach for influence and power
"a Have you paid any attention. Mr.. Tweed,
to the debate on Ciyil-Serviee reform now rag
ing around the Federal Governments"
- have, and it is 4 great question. see no
objection to that system, except as It disturbs
politicians. We can certainly get better service
at less cost undrr that systen.''
stWhen You held so much power were you
ever tempted to do personal injustice-scnd a
man to jail to get MIN out OF the way, for ex-
.,.
We held SO much power. can look back now
aud see the things 1 could have done which
never struck me at that time rs pertinent or
possible. Our 'powcr,' so called, was always
held; our revenues were uncertain
and fitting; the greed below us ate up faster
than any greed of our own"