The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-04-18
TWEED FREE AT LAST.


William Marcy Tweed, familiarly
known as Boss Tweed, the ex-chief Of
the Tammany Party in New York, and
for years the head and controlling spirit
of the corrupt ring which robbed the
people of that city of millions of dollars.
died OH last Friday at noon in his room
in Ludlow Street Jail, in New York,
where he was serving out his term of
sentence for his conduct which made
him one of the most famous men in
America. Mr.. Tweed was born in New
York in 1928, the son of an honest chair
maker, but in early youth he displayed
an aversion to his parental calling, and
after limited education began life as
bookkeeper, bnd gradually rose until he
became the head of the great Tammany
Party in the city of New York, by means
of which position he controlled the city
government, both as to officers and finan-
ces. During his sway the taxpayers ofthe
city we're robbed of millions of dollars,
and Tweed rolled in the luxury of ill
gotten wealth until the hand of justice
overlook his crimes, and uron number
of indictments he was convicted and sent
to prison for long term of years. Some
two years ago he escaped from prison
and went 10 Europe, but was captured
and brought back to his prison in New
York, where he remained until last Fri
day, when death gave him release from
the incarceration which his crime brought
upon him. In his dying moments he
said: ~ have tried to do some good, if /
have not had good luck. I am not
afraid to die. believe the guardian an
gels will protect me-" At the last he
exclaimed, ri hope they will be satisfied,
now, they have got meI and his spirit
passed from earth forever.
Poor Tweedl His is the history Of
many humber individuals, except that
it is acted upon 81 grander scale. Born
poor, but too proud, or at least disin'
clined to work, yet possessing all the de-
sire to rise which can be found in the
most ambitious, there was but one way
in which he could achieve the money hi
desired, and that was to take and appro
pirate money which did not belong X
him. It IVES theft in the case of Tweet
as much as it is in the humber thief who
robs chicken coop or a meat-house, anG
finally brought him to the level of tht
petty thief. Tweed's tragic end ha'
brought forth for him sympathy from
many people who blame the law for in
ficting its penalties upon him, but W,
cannot perceive any justification for sucl
a sentiment. Of course, every christian
every moralist, and every humanitarian
will be sorry for Tweed, and will regre
that he 80 far ssrayed from the patti
of honor and of right, but furthe
than this it is not safe for publ,
sympathy to follow him. He was 4
criminal-had stolen the public none.
raised by taxation from the toiling thou
sands of New York, and, while We lool
upon his misfortunes, who can see tn,
| ruin be has wrought before his downfall
Who knows how many widows and help
less women his expressions have caused
to lose their homes and their property
under high tax sales? Where a mar
trangresses the Law it is false morality
to spend our sympathies upon him. The
law-abiding citizens of q country are en-
titled to the highest protection, and theil
lives and property can only be secured
by Furnishing crime, whether i. be con-
mitted in high or low places. Public
sentiment should be based upon the
standard ofjustice, and this sickly senti.
mentality, which cannot bear to have 9
rogue punished for fear that it will moi
be pleasant to him, should be discarded