The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-04-21
DEATH OF BOSS TWEED.

VIM. n. Tweed, familiarly known as "Boss"
Tweed, died in Ludlow street jsil, New YORK,
on Fridsy the 18th inst. The interest people
had in him arose from the fact that for twenty
years he was really, though not Eomiaily, tho
ruler of New York City, and that during those
years he and his oonfederates robbed the peo-
pie of about $50, ,ooO 900.
Tweed was born in New York, fifty. five years
ego. His family were ef Scotch origia, His
father was chair maker, a trada which be
learned and carried on until he found it more
profitable to devote his time exclusively to
politica Tweed received q good common school
educa tion, and at an early age joined the Ma
sonic Order and the Fire Department. In the
first named organization be soon became dig
tiuguished for his readiness to take points aud
give repsrtee, and in the latter for his zeal in
all matters connected with the company Of
which he was foreman. "Big G." Under his
management, "Big 6' became the most famous
company in the country. She dashed through
the streets at fearful pace, Tweed leading
the ropes with silver mounted trumpet in his
hand, reached all fires first and always per-
formed wonderful service. In 1s47 his politi-
cal career commenced, and until bis fall in
1871 he hold various municipal offices. The
PSfiO0 ok Ato BtS0SSoS fS"SA WOO eSAtNS "-."'
four years folio wing the passage, by the Lsgis-
| lature, of what was known as tho Tweed
Charter. That instrument placed the city in
the hands of Board of Audit, composed of
Hail. Connolly and Twesd. In two months the
Board robbed the city of Sc 000. 900, the plum
dering being confined from that time forward
| thongh not in suoh colossal proportions.
Finally, in 1871, some of the secrets of the
| l. = 10 81
such men as Sheriff OBrien, Charles O'Conor
and 8. J. TiIden, who took manful stand Ia
behalf of the plundered people. All the coDspira-
tors escaped to foreign countries, excepting
| Tweed, who was arrested in October, 1871, but
gave bail in 81 900 600, his bondsmen justify
ing in double the smount. With the weight
of these Developments to carry he nevertheless
| rsu for the State Senate and was elected by
5000 majority over O'Donovan Rosss, bnt never
took his seat. In 1873 his trial on the numer-
GUS civil and criminal suits instituted against
him, commenced. His friends began to desert
him then. He was convicted on some counts
and Imprisoned. Escaping in 1875, from his
own house, which the Sheriff permitted him to
visit in charge of two keepers, he made his
way to Cub. and thence to Spain, bat was
| captured and returned TO prison in November
1876, where he remained, ever 8 prominent
object of public interest, till the day of his
death.
| The n. Y. Sun commenting editorially upon
the death Of Tweed, says:
Thr most obvious reflection over the death
bed of this mRu s the contrast between his
greatness when he was the dictator of this
city the levier ard the robber of it's taxes, the
| maker of governors, the buyer Of Legislatures
the ambitious aspirant for the greater power
! M fha riahaF annaFfHnifiaa whinh WnhhipD
ton and the national treasury displayed to his
Imagination, and the utter misery and mean
ness of his death. No contrast could be more
impressive His power was weif-nigh bound
less !; his crimes were on the same scale OF
grandeur; and his punishment, though only
the smallest part of it was inflicted by the hin
isters of the law, was most complete and ex
emplary. 1t was intensified, too, by the fact
th at he endured it alone, and that his con
federstes, more timid, more cunning, and more
fortunate than he, escaped, for the most part
keeping the spoils of their robberies, while hC
was compelled to lose his. Connolly, Reeing
In time to Europe, is still o millionaire in HE
shameful exile, and sweeny, the abiest heae
prosecutor for few hundred Thousand dollars
is unharmed in Paris. Thus human justice
was most unequally allotted. They were ne
less oulpable than he, while they lacked alto
gether the amiAble and engaging qualities
which nature had generously bestowed upor
Tweed. Yet he dies poor and in prison, while
they live rich and at liberty.
It must be rememb bere3 in judging of T weed
, that while he was one of the great plunderert
| of the time, he was by no means the only one
: He illustrates most oouspicnously the chiei
Characteristic vice Of his day and generation
but others who have never been arsigned IL
any court illustrate it also. Ours has been AT
era of public plundering. This form of de
pravity has pervAded ell departments and al
strata of official and public life. The breact
Of trust has become common practice: Th'
managers Of moneyed corporations pluude
+ their depositors and stoekholdeES, and th'
Z highest officers Of government flch from tht
funds the people oonfide to their Keeping.