New-York tribune., 1878-04-15
TWO DEAD MEN,

Tveed's death last week preached sermon
which every fool or child could understand
Not the less f0rcible, either, because every
body showed the natural kindly impulse to
cover the sins of the dead, to put him and
his life and its moral decently and quickly
out of sight. few weeks ago man died IN
Philadelphia as prominent rs Tweed, the
meaning of whose life was as broad and plthy,
but it was one which everybody was eager to
hold up TO view and make much Of. For 1t is
curious fact that even vicious and weak men
are proud of another mans life which they
believe to be thoroughly pure and genuine,
and feel themselves and the world the better
for il. If old Putarch were alive, he would
have held the two men mp for comparison
until we could see the lines OF their
characters in shrewd and terrible contrast.
There were certain circumstances In common
in the lives of William Welsh and William
Tweed which would have justified such com
parison Both were men OF great original
force: both followed the path they had marked
ont for themselves unintluenced by others
both were born in the atmosphere Of commerce
and began a business life in early boyhood
with very sCanty education; both amaSsed
great wealth and made their way to leader
shin in the affairs of their native cities. But
there the likeness ceases What Tweed was
we all know-honest and industrious probably
in his youth. until the greed for show, for
money. seized him; then a thief, the boldcst,
most gigantic and successful in his swindIing
opcratons that the country has ever known
Eight years ago his prosperity and wealth
seemed inyinciblc; diamonds literally glittered
L. Il. l. s..
the proudcst and most honorable citizens of
Ncw-York paid homage to him. Last Friday
the white-haired old man lay dead in prison
cell and of all his followers there was none
SO poor to do him reverence.
William Welsh had neither genius nor
scholarship to give him eminence; he was
simply n Christian. The force he brought to
hear upon the world was that of brOtherly
love and stern integrity. He never held an
Office to which a salary was attached. Yet he
rescued the vast financial interests cOnided to
the City OF Philadelphia in trust, which had
else become the prey of Rings as unscrupu-
Ions rs TWeed's, and controlled their man
agcmcnt for years on principles OF strict
economy and honor. He was known as the
friend of the Indian in every tribe. He gave
n powerful helping hand TO every enterprise
which would strengthen or elevate the Grim
inal. the poor or the wretched For thirty
wears, while carrying on one of the largest
and most complicated trades i'll the country,
this man never neglected to go once a week
10 the orphans of Girard College to talk TO
them of God and life and heaven as a loving
father would to his boys. He died a week or
two ago without moments warning, in a
hospital surrounded by the poor and blind, to
each one of whom he had been friend. The
whole city stood his mOurner. From the
Indian tribes, from distant countries, came
lamentations from countless human beings
whom he had beGriended and helped.
Both of these men had great wealth, but, ly-
ing dead to-day, neither has taken a dollar
with him. In the words of Mr.. Welsh, "noth-
cling lasts in this world but character" In
the world beyond, to which they have gone -
But there our curious eyes have no right to
follow them. We want to call the attention of
Young men to these two lives, and to their
curious illustration of certain old truths of the
Bible which do not often find their way into
the daily journals. Put them out of sight as we
WILL their awful justice is no less alive and
omnipOtent. Reward or retributiOn does not
wait for another life. They come here and
now. They are mt work to-day in our lives as
certain and inexorable as i'll those of these two