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

William Marcy Tweed, familiarly
known as Ross Tweed, the ex.chief of
the Tammsny Party in Nag yo-k, end
for years the head and controlling spirit
of the corrupt ring which robbed the
people of tina. city of L1illions Of dollaru,
died on last Friday ct 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 On honest chair
maker, but in early youth he displayed
an aversion TO his parental calling, and
after limited education began life as q
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 of tho
city were robbed of millions of dollars,
and Tweed rolled in the luxury of ILL
gotten wealth until tho hand Of justice
overlook his crimes, and upon o number
OF indictments he was convicted aud sent
TO prison for long term Of years. Some
two years ago he escaped from prison
and went to 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: II have tried TO do some good, If
have not had good luck. am not
afraid to die. I believe the guardian an-
gels will protect me-" At the last be
exclaimed, II hope they will he satisfied,
now, they have got 1" and his spirit
passed from earth forever.
Poor Tweed! His is the history OF
many humber individuals, except that
1t is acted upon 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 he
desired, and that was TO take and appro.
pirate money which did not belong to
him. 1t was theft in the case of Tweed
as much as 1t Is in the humble. thief vhc
robs chicken coop or meat.house, and
finally brought him to the level of The
petty thief. Tweed's tragic end ha,
brought forth for him sympathy from
many people who blame the law for in
hicting its penalties upon him, but We
cannot perceive any justification for such
sentiment. OF coupe, every christian
every moralist, and every humanitarian
will be sorry for Tweed. and will regre
that he go far etrayed from the patti
Of honor and of right, but further
than this 1t Is not safe for public
sympathy to follow him. He was 6
criTninal-had stolen the public none,
raised by taxation from the toiling thou
sands of New York, and, while we lool
upon his misfortunes, who car see the
ruin be has wrought before his downfall
Who knows how many widows and help.
less women his expressions have cnnaed
to lose their homes and their property
under high tax Gales? Where man
trnngresses the law it is false morality
to spend our sympathies upon him. The
law-abiding citizens of country are en-.
titled to the highest protection, and their
lives and property can only be secured
by furnishing crime, whether it be CON-
mit!ed in high or low places. Public
sentiment should be based upon the
standard ofjustice, and this sickly senti.
mentality, which cannot bear to have a
rogue punished for fear that i. will not
be pleasant to him, should be discarded.