New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-17

IN ba,;ove that he too had had his hands in
the public treasury,-nOt that they hao coi'n-
dence in his honesty, but they did not suppose
he was so vulgar. Ii always seemed lhueeu
that the ambition of Sweeny was to be lorce
in notifies. the Warwick of the New-lork De-
mocracv. The sobriGuet of "Petcr Brains ."
well expressed the popular opinion OF this shrewa
and ouiet man, who planned campaigns ana
regulated conventions, and always affected
lust for power rather than for wealth. Even
when he ran away from the police he mace
his escape with sort of dignity, and he lived
in Paris during his Punishment as II he SUN
considered himself reputable gentleman
driven into a foreign port by stress OF ponies
The relentless prosecution OF the hi'is h,,'
not only stripped the disguise from ie'er d.
Sweeny's character. but has made IL iihpoSsi-
bic for him to postpone much longer the res'i-
tutiop which he owes the city. The law mas
moved against the scattered members or the
Ring. one after another with step as firm as
fats. Neither distance nor disguise mas
availed to protect them. Sweeny doubt
less believed that while the Atlantic
Ocean rolled between him and his pursuers
no was secure from molestatiOn. But all these
men were hound to New-York by such strong
ties that absence was an almost lntoleraple
punishment 1t is impossible to THINK OF
Tammany politician making himself contehtca
amid the splendOrs of Paris, and there Is
probably not one of the fugltlyes VINO wOuiu
not gladly return to this country to-day IL ne
could make himself safe from Jail 10y giving
nm most of his plumber. Whatever combina-
tion of motives may have induced Sweeny 10
hat n
signal victory of justice, and that he has not
purchased immunity from arrest except III
large price. And whatever may be the Issue
of his trial it is equally certain that Ills
presence to answer the indictment Is a great
public lesson.
There seems to be no reason why the friehas
Of this returned wandcrcr should congratulate
him upon getting home again. lie VIII not
find it pleasant in New-York. His Old COM
rades are scattered. His old followers are
ashamed of him. His old occupations are gone
forever and if spark OF his OLD ambition
survives, the condition OF Ncw-lork politics
ought to wiring his soul with anguish. The late
lomented Democratic candidate for the PreSl-
dcnrv was the most active Of his prosecutors,
and made his campaign entirely npon the
many conspiracy. And although the head OF
the party has had his troubles since then ana
has gone into retirement from whch
he is not likely to emerge, there Is not the
slightest prospect that the old Democratic
methods will be revived in consequence OF the
collapse of the great Democratic reform move
mcnt. 1t is quite true that Republican Office
holders have not been reformed out OF the
custom houses and pOst-oiliccs, but IN the ad-
ministration of municipal affairs great deal
of practical reform has been accomplished.
There is a distressing prevalence of honesty
on the part of the Controller, an annoying at
tention to scrIples III the Mayors Office, and
a method of doing business in the Department
of Public Works which the Ring school
of statesmen must lament as dlSSmcciully
impractical. These things of course may
change. Reforms are seldom permanent. In the
course of time we shall need to be reformed
again. But no active and important member
of the broken Tammany Ring will ever regain
place, influence or respect in New-1Ork poll
ties. One by one they may be permitted to
come back, but the disgrace of their crimes
will cling to them forever. They must pass
their closing years in obscurity and diScredit
amid the wreck of broken fortunes.