The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-04-03
Our New York Letter.
The Oakley HALL SensaiIon-R Il eminisce !.
ces of the Ring.

New YORK, Mar. 81, 1877.
Inc o@key Hall sensation lasted its exact
ilmit OF nine days, and just as it was being
iaid aside as worn out topic a clew to the
mystery was discovered in despatch from
Liverpool to-day announcing that he had been
recognized there by newspaper man. This
explanation in itself wouldn't be at all concu-
slve because nobody could be sure that there
was any such newspaper man, or that he had
seen any mysterious passenger from America,
or II he had that Hall was the man. Bot in
asmach as Hall did in all human probability go
to Europe there are grounds for accepting the
rest OF the story as inherently credible, at least
until it is contradicted
This affair has served one good purpose. 1t
has revived the memories of the people OF the
evil days OF the Ring and its msdeeds That
is chapter of shame and crime that ought not
10 be forgotten, on account of the moral it
points. There are several men shuddering at
this moment in anticipation of possible revela-
tlons by Tweed and Sweeny. Everybody knows
they did not carry on their peculations without
confederates. The principal theme of curiosity
IS to find out how much they paid and to what
parties for the charter they got through the
In-i-1-"--v-vf OF toTu, which was a v-.--i $40
absolute license to steal dd libittun. Every man
who voted for that charter is naturally and in
evitably an object of suspicion. No doubt some
OF them were cajoled into doing SO by specious
pretenses that it was meant to observe the pub
lie interests but the old birds could hardly have
been caught with such wretched chaff as that
Venaty at that period was unhappily too COM
mon. From 1858 to 1871 legislators were regard
ed as marketable commodities. Money was paid
to them by persons who set themselves up for
firstclass reformers now. 1 know as well as
can possibly know of any transaction of which
was not an eye witness that $4,000 in green
backs were paid to a Democratic Senator,
Henry w. Genet-now fugitive from justice
for single vote on railway grant. That
the system prevailed largely. and was adopted
by members of both parties is as certain as any
thing can be that was done in secret and can
only be demonstrated by circumstantial evi-
dence. How far this iniquitous practice was
carried can never be known until some accom-
plce turns states evidence. Tweed has hith-
erto preserved an immovable silence. Rumors
are rife that wearied at last by apprehensions of
interminable incarceration, he has consented to
facts. There may be nothing in 1t. But the
very suggestion of such a thing has occasioned
wide spread alarm among the consciously
gultf individuals. If he tells all he knows he
will implicats several prominent men Of both
political parties. The bare possibility of his
doing so has created CONSERVATION here and
in Albany which is too palpable for conceal
ment.
Since the flight of Hall, it is asserted that the
resolution directing that the duties of the fa-
nous, or rather the infamous Board Of audit
should be delegated to the county auditor, Wat
son, who subsequently died-still preserved In
Halls hand writing-was antedated; that 1t
was filed as a cover to excuse the neglect of an
imperative official requirement. and that Halls
share of the plunder was as accurately fixed
| upon as that of any other of the gang, only
that being sharper than the rest of them, he
insisted upon receiving his pro rata in bank
notes, so that no tell-tale cheques could ever be
produced as evidences of his participation in
the thefts.
1t is an unfortunate circumstance that the
Tweed charter OF 1870 was carried by Repabli-
can votes Most of it, legislative supporters
| have relapsed into their original obscurty, but
| some-yer remain as spared mnnnmsnts of the
mercy of their constituents, and it is popularity
supposed that they are trembling with fear
| that the influences which operated to secure
their aid in promoting the worst scheme for
| legitmatiziDg robbery that human wickedness
| ever devised, will finally be brought to
| light. The debt that was saddled upon the
city still remains and the means of meeting the
interest upon it diminish with the decadence of
business prosperity. When times are good the
metropolis profits by them more perhaps
than any other section. But id periods of ad.
versity it suffers in a corresponding ratio. The
uecessaries of life are dear, the cost of living
has been reduced but little. The sources of
revenue meantime have been greatly curtaled.
Half the people of New York are engaged just
now in an uphill struggle for existence. The
incomes from real estate have shrivelled fright
fully, the holders Of securities get few divi-
dends, and the tradesmen are too much occu-
pied with frantic endeavors to avert bankruptcy
to think of profits. Evidences of poverty and
want obtrude themselves upon the public gaze
in every form and variety. 1t is not q cheerful
place to dwell in at present. When our citizens
were so busy in getting gain that they couldn't
spare time to look after their local government
the rascas who ruled them laid heavy mort
cages on their estates to put money in their
parses. Now, when there are few gains to get,
the tax gatherer comes and levies contributions
in all directions from which there is no escape
except by the fearful alternative of confisca.
ton. YARMOUTH.